At 79 years old, friends say Melvin Roberts was still sharp as a tack and still as feisty as ever.

While he had a bulldog attitude when it came to representing his clients in court, he also had a softer side. When the dust settled following contentious legal proceedings, one colleague offered, “We would always call each other friends.”

Just a week ago, Roberts dropped by the Cherokee County Clerk of Courts Office to offer his typical greetings. “He was a true Southern gentleman,” said clerk of courts Brandy McBee. “He had a sense of humor, too.”

Like others throughout the local legal system, McBee was shocked to hear Friday about Roberts’ passing — a passing that had nothing to do with old age or infirmity. As of press time on Sunday afternoon, investigators in York still were looking for clues and a killer.

Roberts, a well-known attorney who previously served stints in York government, was found dead at his Roberts Avenue home after police were summoned there regarding a report about a robbery.

Roberts’ girlfriend told police she had been bound and gagged by an unknown assailant at Roberts’ home while he was away. He subsequently arrived home and reportedly was assaulted by the same person.

The woman called 9-1-1 after she was able to free herself.

While York Police Chief William Mobley could not be reached for comment Sunday, other media outlets have reported that police said Roberts had a plastic tie around his neck and had injuries to an ear and to his head.

York County Coroner Sabrina Gast had not yet released her findings on the cause or manner of Roberts’ death as of press time.

A suspect was described in a police report but the details are somewhat vague. The attacker police are looking for is a male 5 feet, 9 inches to 5 feet, 11 inches tall, and weighing 200 to 240 pounds. Police said the attacker also spoke with some type of accent.

While Roberts practices in York, he was well known in Gaffney, both as a lawyer and a businessman.

He owned an apartment building in the downtown area as well as a business location.

Local business operators Gayle White and Charlie Patton both said Roberts was instrumental in the formation of the Downtown Gaffney Business Association.

White, owner/operator of Pieces from the Past antiques store, and Patton, co-owner of Buford Street Drug, both succeeded Roberts as president of the downtown association.

“He was very progressive in getting people to join up,” White said of Roberts.

“He helped get us organized and get our feet off the ground,” said Patton.

Attorney Wade “Chip” Weatherford III, a longtime friend and colleague, worked on numerous cases with Roberts and also squared off against him in some cases.

“Every case the South Carolina Supreme Court put out he read,” Weatherford said. “He was a good lawyer and was very intelligent. He always knew what the law was.”

Weatherford described Roberts as a “fighter” with a persistent style. But, he said, “You can be against Melvin on a case and always be friends. He never took things personally.”

Attorney Daniel D’Agostino of York, who worked with Roberts from 1989 to 2005, said Roberts will be sorely missed.

“He truly was a great person,” D’Agostino said. “He believed in the sanctity of the justice system and had great respect for the law. He took his job as an officer of the court very seriously and never relented when it came to representing his client.”

Funeral services for Roberts will be held at 2 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church in York.

According to his obituary from Bratton Funeral Home in York, Roberts graduated from law school in 1954 and moved to York in 1955. He excelled in law school and was a member of The Wig and Robe, an association of top law students, and served as associate editor of Law Quarterly.

He is also credited as being the longest-serving member of the South Carolina State Bar. He served on the York County City Council for 8 years in the 1960s and was a two term mayor of York in 1972.

He had an unsuccessful run for the U.S. Senate in 1976.

No arrests in his death had been reported as of press time.