Wilma Robertson, Activist for the Disadvantaged

Wilma Robertson of Bisbee, an 84-year old activist for the disadvantaged, is Gabrielle Giffords’ supporter of the week. Her life’s journey has taken her from a childhood raised on an Arizona ranch, to service as an aircraft mechanic in World War II, to helping César Chávez provide a voice to the working people of California’s Central Valley. She supports Giffords because of her ability to connect with people. “What impresses me about this woman is that she cares,” Wilma said. “She feels people’s pain. She cares about people and she really listens.”

Wilma, a third generation Arizonan, was raised on a ranch in Peoria, AZ. Growing up, she helped with all of the chores on the ranch, including milking cows, cutting hay, and growing grain. She also helped grow cotton. “I was the weigh-in person when they brought in the sacks of cotton,” she said. “I weighed the sacks and had to pick out the rocks that the workers would put in to make the sacks heavier.” She also helped to repair farm equipment, which gave her a lifelong interest in mechanics.

Wilma graduated from Peoria High School and attended Arizona State University. In 1943, she enlisted in the military. “My brother was a P-38 pilot,” she said. “All my friends were in the military so I decided to join. It was a very patriotic time.” She enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps, and was assigned to the Air Force, which quickly learned about Wilma’s mechanical expertise. She was assigned to be an aircraft mechanic and spent most of the war at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, helping to repair B-29s and going up on test flights with the Air Force pilots. “I loved being the mechanic — working on those big airplanes,” she said.

After the War ended, Wilma embarked on the career that would shape her life — working in the labor movement. For 32 years, she organized workers. She spent several years in Fresno, CA, helping to organize the farm workers and marching with Cesar Chavez. “He was very gentle,” Wilma said. “He truly believed in and lived a nonviolent life. He was very adamant about it. He was very quiet-spoken and very dedicated to helping his people.”

While organizing workers in Arizona, Wilma had another memorable experience — sitting next to John F. Kennedy when he gave a speech at a rally in support of the labor movement. Meeting JFK was “plain overwhelming,” she said. “He had such an aura about him. There was such a special thing about JFK. Just like Cesar Chavez — he had the same thing.”

She had another brush with history when she participated in Martin Luther King’s legendary march on Washington in 1963. Wilma has worked on numerous campaigns. She volunteered for Jimmy Carter in Fresno, and for Bill Clinton here in Arizona. She also volunteered for Gov. Janet Napolitano’s campaign for Governor in 2002.

She decided to volunteer for Gabrielle Giffords because of her record of fighting for change. “I know about her record in the Legislature,” Wilma said. “I like what she believes in. My two passions are helping children and helping the elderly. She has a good understanding of both. I’m also very interested in the minimum wage,” she said, pointing out the Gabrielle sponsored a bill in 2005 to raise the minimum wage. “She’s my kind of candidate. I think we need change. And I think she’ll make change.”

Wilma has lived in Bisbee for 25 years. She has two adult daughters — Louise and Coco.