The Will and Clara Robinson memorial scholarships and the Durant Athletic Booster Club received funds after the winner of a fundraiser donated it back.
Brett Rogers, vice president of Durant Booster Club, said the club had the fundraiser at the pep rally last fall.
“The winner of that happened to be Butch Arnett, a great community partner and so visiting with Butch and Rob (Piearcy), Arnett Insurance is donating the funds back which was $5,000,” Rogers said. “They’re going to donate $2,500 back to the Booster Club and then $1,250 to each of the scholarships for Clara Robinson, which is through the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and then Will’s scholarship through Southeastern Foundation.”
Memorial scholarships for Durant Lady Lions basketball coach Will Robinson and his daughter Clara were established in honor of them. They died in a Christmas Eve 2024 car accident.
“It’s a great fundraiser for us and a great partner just giving money back to the community and again, we’re proud to partner with Butch and the Booster Club as well as the scholarships representing coach Robinson and his family and of course, we’re here today with coach Tony Robinson and the girls to represent really all aspects of it, the Booster Club and the athletes here as well as the family that’s impacted by the scholarships,” Rogers said.
Arnett said he wanted to donate the money he had won. Arnett is a graduate of Durant High School and Southeastern. He also is a former coach and teacher in the Durant School District.
“I asked them just what would you like to do with the money so we decided or they decided that we’d give half of what I won back to the Booster Club and then the two Robinson scholarships,” Arnett said. “I’m happy to be able to do that through myself, Arnett Insurance, and it’s just something that we just love to do for the community.”
Arnett reflected on the accident that claimed the lives of Will and Clara.
“It’s just such a tragedy we’ve learned how to live with,” he said.
Will’s father, Tony Robinson, took over as head coach of the Lady Lions after the passing of his son.
He said he is proud of the donation.
“I’m so proud of the community and the support that they’ve given and it’s just amazing,” Robinson said. “It’s a great place to live. Durant’s a great place to live and a great place to raise family, and it goes to a good cause for Will and Clara. It’s something that will go on forever in their names, and so I’m so appreciative.”
Robinson said it has been a tough time of the year for the family.
“But day by day, God has a plan, so that’s kind of been our motto and our theme and we’ll get by as a family,” Robinson said.
He spoke of the Lady Lions basketball team that was seven and one as of last week.
“We’re not playing our best basketball, but they somehow find a way to win … I’m too old for all of those close games but they’re just a special bunch,” Robinson said. “They’re a good bunch and they’re just so positive and they get along really well together. You know, it’s fun coaching them.”
The Lady Lions made it to the Class 5A state tournament last season for the first time in 16 years, something Robinson said was incredible.
Robinson said, “I said all along last year that you know, they did things that I’d walk off the floor and think how in the world did they do that? They shouldn’t have been able to do that, so I got to think there was some help somewhere, a higher presence, you know. But it was an amazing run, and it was all I feel like was because of their love for their coach Will and I felt like that was a big part of it.”
