John Robinson grew up in the Ozarks, and graduated from Mizzou J-School. Along the way he formed a deep abiding love for Missouri’s culture. He served Missouri as director of tourism immediately following the tragic events of 9/11, and launched the successful Rediscover Missouri campaign. He has driven every mile of every road on the Missouri state highway map, and written three books about the experience. In 2014 John won an Emmy Award for the video series Finding Wild Missouri. An avid gardener, cyclist and public speaker, John has sailed on the Queen Mary, held a tarantula, moved grand pianos for a while, and sat in a gas chamber. He was a field producer for America’s Most Wanted. An Eagle Scout, John is an avid sailor, and survived Hurricane Omar and Tropical Storm Gamma. But his sloop was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. John and Cheryl live in Columbia. They have two daughters and six grandchildren.