Bob Staton

Robert Emmett Staton is an American academic administrator and former business executive who served as the 18th president of Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. He is the former chairman and CEO of Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company.

Bob Staton
18th President of Presbyterian College
In office July 15, 2015 – December 31, 2020
Preceded by	Claude Lilly
Succeeded by	Don Raber (interim) Matthew vandenBerg
Personal details
Spouse(s)	Phyllis
Children	4
Education	Presbyterian College University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D.)

Early life and education

Staton attended Presbyterian College, graduating in 1968, and the University of South Carolina School of Law, graduating in 1971.[1]

Career

Staton served as the chairman and CEO of Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company until the late 1990s. After retiring from that position, he joined the Board of Trustees at Presbyterian, a position in which he served from 1997 until 2006.

He served as PC's executive vice president for external relations from 2007 to 2012.[2] On July 1, 2015, one day after Presbyterian president Claude Lilly announced his intention to resign, Staton was named as the interim replacement and was later announced as the permanent president of the college, taking office on July 15, 2015. It was announced on May 12, 2020, that Staton would retire effective December 31, 2020.[3]

Staton was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Public Service at Presbyterian's 2015 commencement.[2]

Run for State Superintendent of Education

On January 4, 2006, Staton announced his candidacy for the position of South Carolina State Superintent of Education.[4] He finished second in a contested Republican primary and conceded the race on June 14, 2006, having received just shy of 35% of the vote compared to Karen Floyd's 50.5%.[5]

2006 South Carolina State Superintendent of Education Republican primary[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Karen Floyd	120,684	50.5
	Republican	Bob Staton	82,777	34.6
	Republican	Mike Ryan	17,332	7.3
	Republican	Elizabeth Moffly	10,995	4.6
	Republican	Kerry Wood	7,156	3
Total votes			238,944	100

Personal life

Staton is married to his wife, Phyllis, a former manager at Palmetto Health, with whom he has four children. Staton currently serves as an elder at Cherokee Presbyterian Church, located in Gilbert, South Carolina.[1]

References

1. "Leadership | Presbyterian College". Presbyterian College. Archived from the original on October 6, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
2. Ellis, Sarah (1 July 2015). "Former Colonial Life exec Bob Staton named Presbyterian College interim president". The State. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
3. "Presbyterian College President Bob Staton to retire Dec. 31, 2020". South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
4. "Staton Running for Top Education Job". WLTX News 19. 4 January 2006. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
5. "Bob Staton, Greg Ryberg pull out". WIS News 10. 14 June 2006. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
6. "South Carolina Republican Primary Results" (PDF). South Carolina Board of Elections. June 16, 2006. Retrieved October 29, 2020.