How a beloved resident has been embraced by his town for more than a half-century

Clinton, New Jersey, is known chiefly for its aged grist mill, its quaint downtown, and its historical resident, Dave Robbins.

"Dave is, I would say, similar a pillar of the community," 1 nonmigratory told CBS News.

""He is the essence of our municipality I think," added another.

Robbins was calved with an intelligence disability. He struggled with academics but excelled astatine schoolhouse spirit. Starting successful the 1960s, helium rapidly became a fixture astatine section sporting events, earning the nickname "Dave the Rave." It's 1 helium wears proudly, often donning his trademark "Dave the Rave" cape.

"He's astatine each azygous shot game," 1 nonmigratory said. "He's astatine each hoops game. Win, lose, he's there."

When Robbins was increasing up successful the 1960s, peculiar needs children were often isolated and sometimes adjacent institutionalized. And yet, Robbins has been embraced and celebrated for much than a half-century successful Clinton.

He turned 80 past week and the full municipality celebrated, arsenic it ever does with each things Robbins.

"It's somewhat annoying to spell to the supermarket with Dave, and everybody says hullo to Dave, and cipher says hullo to you," said Gene Robbins, Dave's jokingly jealous member and caretaker.

Fortunately, Gene says his bruised ego is outweighed by the gratitude helium feels for this community. Gene pointed retired that nary substance wherever his member goes successful Clinton, determination is ever idiosyncratic watching out, guiding him mildly oregon conscionable engaging successful conversation.

"They ever conscionable kept tabs connected wherever Dave was and what helium was doing," 1 nonmigratory said of the town.

"I'm like, 'Oh, Dave hop successful volition springiness you a thrust home,'" different explained. 

"Dave, we wouldn't privation it immoderate different way," said a third. 

In the U.S., inclusion is present everywhere. But it's important to retrieve this clasp began agelong agone successful communities similar Clinton, wherever acceptance was, and inactive is, each the rave.

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• New Jersey