Major Robinson realizes that his life has led down a strange — yet amazing — path. He designed a Dr. Seuss ride in a theme park, ran a bed and breakfast in his boyhood home of Lame Deer and worked as an architect in Los Angeles. Three weeks ago, Gov. Brian Schweitzer appointed Robinson acting director of Indian affairs.

“Once you hear all the steps, it makes sense,” the 48-year-old explained.

Robinson grew up on a ranch in Lame Deer, one of seven sons and three daughters. His father was a maintenance supervisor in addition to his ranching duties and his mother worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“My father did a lot of things — like myself — I guess,” he said. “It was a great life.”

Robinson, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, adored drawing from a young age.

“I would draw anything and on anything,” he said.

After graduating from Colstrip High School, Robinson attended Montana State University and the University of New Mexico, where he received his bachelor’s degree in architecture. He said he decided on that major because it offered a multitude of career options.

The degree led to his being hired at a Los Angeles architectural firm. In the evenings, Robinson moonlighted for a theme park company doing drawings.

Working on rides was a good fit for him at the time because he could delve into both his creative and practical sides. Robinson said he liked the instant gratification of theme-park work as it was the first time he saw his sketches come to life.

It was sort of an odd match for Robinson, because growing up in rural Montana he didn’t have much access to amusement parks. He did go to Disneyland — where he later worked — when he was 17 years old.

The Los Angeles job led to one in Tokyo, where Robinson lived for a few years working for the Sanrio Purloland theme park. Sanrio is best known as the maker of Hello Kitty products.

After Japan, he consulted on parade floats at the happiest place on earth.

Then in 1995, Robinson relocated to Florida to serve as production designer for Orlando’s Universal Islands of Adventure “The Cat in the Hat” ride.

He oversaw the Dr. Seuss project from concept to completion, which took about four years. Robinson helped create the lights, sounds and animated figures.

“Creatively it was just wonderful to be able to bring it all together. The book really comes to life,” he said.

The ride follows Dick, Sally and the cat through 26 scenes from the tale in a vehicle made to look like the family’s couch.

Although professionally advantageous, the crowning moment of his experience with the ride was that he met his wife while creating it. Michelle Robinson worked for Universal. The two married in 1998.

Robinson said the second highlight of his Seuss adventure was being able to take his oldest daughter Jorian, 6, through the ride when she was old enough.

“To see her face light up at seeing it all was pretty amazing,” he said.

The Robinsons also have a 4-year-old daughter named Kyra.

When the Seuss ride was finished, Robinson returned to Montana with his wife. He inherited his boyhood log-home, which he and Michelle renovated and turned into a bed and breakfast.

The couple ran the B and B for about four years but the task became too difficult with two young girls and they decided to close it.

Robinson then worked in construction for tribal government for a few years. During that time, he supervised the planning and building of the Northern Cheyenne Youth Service Center. He said he is proud to have created buildings both on and off the reservation.

In February 2005, the governor appointed Robinson to his office as an economic development specialist.

Since then, Robinson has helped form the Montana Indian Business Alliance, which has about 100 members. The organization is charged with matching private Indian business owners with available resources.

Robinson said he is aware that his children might feel some animosity toward him for giving up on the theme park jobs, but he finds his work with Montana’s tribes most rewarding.

“Rides are fun but I want to make a lasting impression on the Indian community,” Robinson said.