Cape native representing former Sikeston author

Robbie Robison graduated from Central High School in 1950 and took a master's degree in administration from Southeast. He also wrote a column for the Bulletin-Journal newspaper called "Common Sense." Robison has had a varied career that includes military service aboard four different submarines, a stint as manager of a rockabilly act and now a career as a literary agent based in Nashville, Tenn.

The first writer he represented was Sgt. Barry Sadler, who wrote the 1966 No. 1 song "Ballad of the Green Berets" and followed with a best-selling series of books based on the character Casca the Eternal Mercenary. Sadler died as a result of a 1989 shooting in Guatemala.

For the past five years, Robison has represented Robert Vaughan, the former Sikeston, Mo., writer who now resides in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Vaughan, one of the founders of the Heartland Writers Guild, has written books that have sold more than 2 million copies. But his newest title, the World War II book "Touch the Face of God," could be his biggest seller, Robison says.

Robison also represents best-selling Western author Ralph Compton.

"Touch the Face of God" is the first book Vaughan has written in the inspirational genre. One of the characters is named Emily Hagan, the name of a niece of Robison's who lives in Cape Girardeau.

The name of the late "Nip" Kelley, a former union official and owner of Nip Kelley Trucking and Equipment Co. in Cape Girardeau, appears as a character in Compton's book "Santa Fe Trail."

"Writers need names," Robison explained.