Cecil Staton
Encyclopedia
Cecil Staton is a politician in the U.S. state
of Georgia
. He is a member of the Republican Party and serves in the Georgia Senate
representing the 18th district, which includes portions of Bibb, Houston, Monroe, Jones, and Crawford counties.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina
, Staton graduated from Carolina High School in 1976, where he served as President of the student body. He graduated from Furman University
in Greenville, South Carolina in 1980. He earned Master of Divinity
with Languages (1982) and Master of Theology
(1985) degrees from Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina
focusing on Hebrew, the Old Testament, and ancient near eastern studies. He earned a DPhil
from University of Oxford
(Regent's Park College, Oxford
) in 1988.
Staton served as professor at Brewton-Parker College
in Georgia from 1989 through 1991. He served Mercer University
for more than eleven years, as Associate Provost, Associate Professor, and Publisher of the Mercer University Press
.
, Staton is a State Senator and a businessman having founded two publishing companies and a broadcasting company based in Macon
and Warner Robins, Georgia
. The broadcasting company owns and operates 14 radio stations, an online community newspaper in Warner Robins, Georgia, and a television station in Warner Robins, serving the Robins region. One of his companies, Stoud & Hall Publishers, received national acclaim for publishing two New York Times bestsellers by former Georgia Governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller
as well as books by 2011 presidential candidates Rick Perry and Herman Cain.
Staton was first elected in 2004, facing both primary and general election opposition. He was re-elected without opposition in 2006, 2008, and 2010. He served as vice-chair of the Republican Caucus before being elected Majority Whip in November, 2010, and as such serves on the Committee on Assignments, which appoints committee chairs and members. As of the 2011 session, Staton also serves on the Rules, Appropriations, Finance, Transportation (Vice-Chair), Banking, and Reapportionment committees. He also serves as chair of the subcommittee of Appropriations on Higher Education and vice-chair of the subcommittee on Community Health. For five years he served as chair of the Senate Science and Technology Committee. He is a recognized leader on education and health-care issues including trauma care, and has sponsored many elections bills including Georgia's requirement for a photo identification for elections.
Staton is married to the former Catherine Lynn Davidson of Woodruff, South Carolina
. They have two children: Cecil P. Staton, III (Trey) born in 1991 and William Davidson Staton born in 1995. They live near Macon, Georgia and are members of the Highland Hills Baptist Church.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. He is a member of the Republican Party and serves in the Georgia Senate
Georgia Senate
The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly .-Composition:According to the state constitution of 1983, this body is to be composed of no more than 56 members elected for two-year terms. Current state law provides for 56 members...
representing the 18th district, which includes portions of Bibb, Houston, Monroe, Jones, and Crawford counties.
Born in Greenville, South Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
-Law and government:The city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of municipal government in 1976.-History:The area was part of the Cherokee Nation's protected grounds after the Treaty of 1763, which ended the French and Indian War. No White man was allowed to enter, though some families...
, Staton graduated from Carolina High School in 1976, where he served as President of the student body. He graduated from Furman University
Furman University
Furman University is a selective, private, coeducational, liberal arts college in Greenville, South Carolina, United States. Furman is one of the oldest, and more selective private institutions in South Carolina...
in Greenville, South Carolina in 1980. He earned Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
with Languages (1982) and Master of Theology
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
(1985) degrees from Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Wake Forest is a town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake County in the U.S. state of North Carolina and is located just north of the state capital, Raleigh. The population was 12,588 at the 2000 census. In 2009, the estimated population was 27,915...
focusing on Hebrew, the Old Testament, and ancient near eastern studies. He earned a DPhil
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(Regent's Park College, Oxford
Regent's Park College, Oxford
Regent's Park College is a Permanent Private Hall in the University of Oxford, situated in central Oxford, just off St Giles.The College admits both undergraduate and graduate students to take Oxford degrees in a variety of Arts, Humanities and Social Science subjects...
) in 1988.
Staton served as professor at Brewton-Parker College
Brewton-Parker College
Brewton–Parker College is a private, Christian, coeducational college whose main campus is located in Mount Vernon, Georgia, USA. Brewton-Parker is affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention and celebrated their centennial in 2004.-Organization:...
in Georgia from 1989 through 1991. He served Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
for more than eleven years, as Associate Provost, Associate Professor, and Publisher of the Mercer University Press
Mercer University Press
Mercer University Press, established in 1979, is a publisher that is part of Mercer University....
.
, Staton is a State Senator and a businessman having founded two publishing companies and a broadcasting company based in Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
and Warner Robins, Georgia
Warner Robins, Georgia
Warner Robins is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located primarily in Houston County with a small portion in Peach County. The city has its own metropolitan statistical area . As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 48,804...
. The broadcasting company owns and operates 14 radio stations, an online community newspaper in Warner Robins, Georgia, and a television station in Warner Robins, serving the Robins region. One of his companies, Stoud & Hall Publishers, received national acclaim for publishing two New York Times bestsellers by former Georgia Governor and U.S. Senator Zell Miller
Zell Miller
Zell Bryan Miller is an American politician from the US state of Georgia. A Democrat, Miller served as Lieutenant Governor from 1975 to 1991, 79th Governor of Georgia from 1991 to 1999, and as United States Senator from 2000 to 2005....
as well as books by 2011 presidential candidates Rick Perry and Herman Cain.
Staton was first elected in 2004, facing both primary and general election opposition. He was re-elected without opposition in 2006, 2008, and 2010. He served as vice-chair of the Republican Caucus before being elected Majority Whip in November, 2010, and as such serves on the Committee on Assignments, which appoints committee chairs and members. As of the 2011 session, Staton also serves on the Rules, Appropriations, Finance, Transportation (Vice-Chair), Banking, and Reapportionment committees. He also serves as chair of the subcommittee of Appropriations on Higher Education and vice-chair of the subcommittee on Community Health. For five years he served as chair of the Senate Science and Technology Committee. He is a recognized leader on education and health-care issues including trauma care, and has sponsored many elections bills including Georgia's requirement for a photo identification for elections.
Staton is married to the former Catherine Lynn Davidson of Woodruff, South Carolina
Woodruff, South Carolina
Woodruff is a city in Woodruff is a city in Woodruff is a city in [[Spartanburg County, South Carolina, located in the "Upstate" area...
. They have two children: Cecil P. Staton, III (Trey) born in 1991 and William Davidson Staton born in 1995. They live near Macon, Georgia and are members of the Highland Hills Baptist Church.