While at Fort Hood , Robinson often used his weekend leave to visit the Rev. Karl Downs , President of Sam Huston College ( now Huston-Tillotson University ) in nearby Austin , Texas . Downs had been Robinson 's pastor at Scott United Methodist Church while Robinson attended PJC . While at Fort Hood , 2LT Robinson often used his weekend leave to visit the Rev. Karl Downs , President of Sam Huston College ( now Huston-Tillotson University ) in nearby Austin , Texas ; Downs had been Robinson 's pastor at Scott United Methodist Church while Robinson attended PJC .