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Honoring Dr. Paul Stanton

Volume
Volume 158 , Number 27
Pages
Pages E228
Legislative Body
Extensions of Remarks
Date
Fri, Feb. 17, 2012

Rep. Phil Roe

legislator photo
Party
R
State
TN

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career and work of Dr. Paul Stanton, president of East Tennessee State University for the past fifteen years. Dr. Stanton first came to ETSU in 1985, as director of the Division of Peripheral Vascular Surgery for the Veterans Administration Medical Center and ETSU's James H. Quillen College of Medicine. Over the next twelve years he devoted himself to ETSU, and for his dedication and hard work, he was named president in 1997. Under Dr. Stanton's leadership, ETSU markedly increased its percentage of residential students, built two large new dorms, and celebrated its centennial anniversary. Under his stewardship Princeton Review has named ETSE as one of America's best value colleges, and one of the top schools in the Southeast. Speaking as a physician, his most important achievement may have been the construction and completion of the Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. During Dr. Stanton's tenure, the Quillen College of Medicine has consistently been named as one of the top rural medical schools in the country, educating the next generation of physicians who more often than not stay and practice in East Tennessee, in addition to serving similar rural communities around the country.

Through his sound leadership, Dr. Stanton, has strengthened the foundation of an important educational institution in East Tennessee. My daughter Whitney is a proud alumna of this distinguished public university.

Along with providing transformative leadership for one of East Tennessee's most important academic institutions, Dr. Paul Stanton has long been a devoted and caring physician, family man, grandfather, teacher, scientist, mentor, true gentleman and a fellow Methodist. Throughout it all his beautiful and terrific wife Nancy has supported him and undertaken a great deal of community involvement herself. Though I know he will miss ETSU, I am sure Dr. Stanton will find a way to keep himself busy between golf, grandchildren, and continued service to the community.

I thank Dr. Stanton for his service and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.