Barbara Robertson

It did not take long after the olive drab footlocker was opened for the "Robertson pride" to break down. With the sharp smell of mothballs permeating the air, Shelby Robertson Quast held up a starched Air Force fatigue shirt. "Robertson" was stenciled over one pocket, and the embroidered wings of a command pilot were stitched over the other. The collar tabs bore the gold oak leaf clusters of a major. It looked new.

When the Los Angeles County Museum of Art launched a search for a chief curator of American art, Bruce Robertson was on the short list of potential contenders, but he wasn't interested. He was happily ensconced at UC Santa Barbara, where he has taught art history since 1991. What's more, he says, as a member of the art faculty, "I got to do the shows I wanted without dealing with the hassles at a museum."

When the Los Angeles County Museum of Art launched a search for a chief curator of American art, Bruce Robertson was on the short list of potential contenders, but he wasn't interested. He was happily ensconced at UC Santa Barbara, where he has taught art history since 1991. What's more, he says, as a member of the art faculty, "I got to do the shows I wanted without dealing with the hassles at a museum."

It did not take long after the olive drab footlocker was opened for the "Robertson pride" to break down. With the sharp smell of mothballs permeating the air, Shelby Robertson Quast held up a starched Air Force fatigue shirt. "Robertson" was stenciled over one pocket, and the embroidered wings of a command pilot were stitched over the other. The collar tabs bore the gold oak leaf clusters of a major. It looked new.

Long Beach State begins the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoffs at 2 p.m. Sunday at UC Santa Barbara's Robertson gym. The 49ers (18-8, 12-7 in the MPSF) are ranked sixth nationally by the American Volleyball Coaches Assn. and Volleyball Magazine. They finished third in the Pacific Division. Santa Barbara (17-8, 14-5), fifth in the polls, was second in the Mountain Division. In the regular-season meeting March 9, the Gauchos defeated the 49ers, 14-16, 15-10, 15-6, 8-15, 15-12.

"The Iceman Cometh" and "La Cage aux Folles" have taken top honors in the 1986 Helen Hayes Awards at the National Theatre. In presentations made Monday night, "Iceman" won the award for the outstanding production bound for New York, while Jason Robards, who starred in the production, received the honor for outstanding lead actor and Barnard Hughes was selected best supporting performer in a touring production. "La Cage" was selected as best touring production.

Air Force Col. John Leighton Robertson was a man of many talents, said his wife of 15 years. He was a capable mountain climber, loved the challenge of skiing the most ruggedslopes and was just as determined on water skis. It is that look of concentration and determination that Barbara Robertson had seen so many times that convinced her that her husband, missing in action in Vietnam since 1966, is still alive. "His expression, his hairline, how he holds his head. . .

Having returned from the Sydney Olympics without a medal, U.S. gymnasts know they can't wait a year or two to rebuild their confidence and sharpen their skills. That process will take a major step forward today, at the GymJam Men's National Qualifier at UC Santa Barbara's Robertson Gym. The top all-around and event qualifiers will advance to the U.S. championships in Philadelphia, Aug. 8-11. From there, the top performers will qualify for the world championships in Ghent, Belgium, Oct. 28-Nov.

Against the backdrop of improving relations between Vietnam and the United States, some old wounds within the families of missing American servicemen refuse to heal. Coming to terms with even the certain knowledge of a loved one's death is difficult enough. How much more trying it must be for the families of three servicemen who, having been told their men are dead, now believe that a photograph given last year to the U.S. State Department shows them alive.

Gymnastics officials had safety in mind when they redesigned the vaulting horse to make it wider and give athletes a feeling of security, especially when they're doing difficult maneuvers. In its first use at a U.S. competition, the new vaulting table--nicknamed "The Tongue" for its curved shape--won universal raves Saturday at the annual GymJam event and inspired thoughts of unlimited possibilities.

A photograph reputed to prove that three American pilots--one with a wife in Santa Ana--who vanished and were presumed to have died during the Vietnam War are still alive somewhere in Southeast Asia is the subject of an urgent inquiry, U. S. officials said Tuesday. The photo showing three middle-age men and a sign that appears to show a date of May 25, 1990, has been turned over to Vietnamese diplomatic officials, a spokesman for the State Department said.