Former Colonial Life exec Bob Staton named Presbyterian College interim president
A day after Presbyterian College’s president announced his resignation, an interim head has been named.
Lexington businessman Bob Staton, a 1968 Presbyterian graduate, will lead the Upstate college while a nationwide search is conducted for a new president.
Staton starts his new role July 15. Current president Claude Lilly informed the college Tuesday of his resignation but did not give a reason.
After graduating from Presbyterian, Staton attended the University of South Carolina School of Law, graduating in 1971.
He was chairman and CEO of Colonial Life before retiring in the late 1990s and served as president of the United Way Association of South Carolina. In 2006, he ran an unsuccessful campaign for state superintendent of education.
He was a member of Presbyterian’s board of trustees from 1997-2006 and from 2007-12 served as the college’s executive vice president for external relations. He also served as chairman of the college’s Promise and Challenge capital campaign. At Presbyterian’s 2015 commencement ceremonies, Staton received an honorary doctorate of public service degree.
Staton now sits on the board of Delta Apparel and is a member of numerous state and local civic organizations. He has been recognized by the S.C. State Chamber of Commerce as Business Leader of the Year and was awarded the Order of the Palmetto by Gov. Jim Hodges in 2001.
Staton and his wife, Phyllis, live in Lexington and will move to Clinton in late July. Phyllis retired after a 50-year career at Palmetto Health Baptist and Richland, most recently having worked as manager of the Breast Centers.
“I am honored to have been selected to serve PC in this role,” Staton said. “We are excited about the opportunity to work closely with the students, faculty, staff, alumni and the Clinton community to move PC into the future.”
The Greenville News contributed.
Reach Ellis at (803) 771-8307.
This story was originally published July 1, 2015 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Former Colonial Life exec Bob Staton named Presbyterian College interim president."