The University of Georgia School of Law has created a scholarship program to honor Robert E. "Robbie" Robinson, a civil and human rights attorney who was killed in 1989 when a mail bomb blew up his Abercorn Street office in Savannah.

Robinson was one of a dozen students who integrated the previously all white Savannah High School. He went on to the University of Georgia, where he earned a J.D. in 1974. He practiced with attorney and state Rep. Bobby Hill, D-Savannah. Robinson also served on the Savannah Board of Aldermen and as general counsel of the NAACP of Georgia until his death. He was 42.

The man convicted of killing Robinson also was convicted of killing a federal judge in Alabama with the same kind of bomb.

"Robbie Robinson represented many individuals who could not afford an attorney," School of Law Dean Peter B. "Bo" Rutledge said in announcing the new scholarship. "The Robinson Scholars Program is a way the School of Law can honor this legal leader by assisting students—in particular those with a desire to pursue public interest work—as they follow their dreams to work in and benefit their communities."

The Robinson Scholars Program is funded with UGA's New Approaches to Promote Diversity and Inclusion grants. Private donations received from the Office of the President will be matched by private law school funding to support the program, Rutledge said. The focus will be on recruitment, preparation for law school, advancing diversity in the legal profession and increasing access to justice in legally underserved communities.

"The UGA School of Law strives to ensure that our student body—and consequently new lawyers beginning their careers—is representative of today's society," Rutledge said. "Programs such as this will break down some of the barriers that exist to entering law school, not only through financial support but by creating an environment where support is more readily available for these students as they begin law school as well as throughout their legal educations."

The first Robinson Scholars enrolled this fall. They are: Luis G. Chavez, Kayla Hope and Ashleigh Rasheed-Britt.