ROBERTSON, DONALD Q. "DON" (21 March 1929 - 21 March, 1999) was a prolific novelist who was lauded by author Stephen King and criticized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Robertson was born in Cleveland to Josephine (Wuebben) and CARL T. ROBERTSON. His father was an associate editor and his mother was a medical reporter at The PLAIN DEALER. When Robertson was fourteen, he was given a job as a copy boy at the newspaper. He attended East High School, Harvard University and Western Reserve University (See CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY). From 1946 to 1948, he served in the Army. While working for The Plain Dealer in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Mr. Robertson volunteered to work the late-night shift editing copy and handling rewrite duties so he could have more time for his first love: writing fiction.
Robertson's first novel, The Three Days, was blasted by President Eisenhower for the obscene language used by its soldier characters. Robertson would publish eighteen more novels, many of which were set in Ohio and revolved around historical events. Among his best known books are The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread, Praise the Human Season, The Second Murder, and Paradise Falls. His novel, The Ideal, Genuine Man, was published in 1988 by Philtrum Press, Stephen King's small publishing house. King called Robertson one of his three greatest influences and one of the best unknown published novelists in the United States.
Robertson was also a successful journalist. He was a columnist for the CLEVELAND PRESS, a features writer for the CLEVELAND NEWS, and a radio and television talk show host. He had shows on WERE Radio, WVIZ CHANNEL 25, and Channel 61. Robertson was inducted into THE PRESS CLUB OF CLEVELAND Hall of Fame in 1992. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Cleveland chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in 1995. In 1991, he was presented the Mark Twain Award from the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature.
Robertson married Sherri (Heideloff) in 1986. They did not have any children together. Robertson is buried in Logan, Ohio.