Contributed/ETSU

East Tennessee State University’s eighth president, Dr. Paul E. Stanton Jr., passed away on Thursday, March 5, after a lifetime of service to both ETSU and the medical community. 

“For those of us who had the privilege of working with him or being in his presence, Dr. Stanton symbolized all that is good in the world. He genuinely cared about the people of this university,” said ETSU President Brian Noland, in an official statement. “Human relationships guided all that he did in the various positions he held at ETSU, from faculty member to department chair to dean to vice president and, ultimately, as our president. To be in Dr. Stanton’s presence was always a joy.”

Stanton served as president of the university for 15 years, from 1997 to 2012, and alumni from that time remember Stanton as kind and well-loved across campus. 

“He embodied our institutional values,” Noland continued in his statement. “For him, people always came first. A meeting with Dr. Stanton invariably began with questions about the health and well-being of one’s family. Those who worked with him through crises and pressures recall that no matter how difficult the issue, Dr. Stanton approached it with calmness and compassion. He treated colleagues with the same level of caring he showed to his patients during his days as a vascular surgeon.”

Stanton’s care for students and his desire to build genuine relationships were evident in the ring presentation ceremony he always held for them.

The East Tennessean front page from Nov. 21, 1996, when Dr. Paul Stanton won unanimous approval from the Tennessee Board of Regents as ETSU’s next president.

“He used to hold a tea and ring presentation ceremony at the Carillon, and any student who ordered their class ring from the main campus vendor was invited to the ceremony,” said Vanessa Canter, an ETSU 2006 alumnus. “Dr. Stanton presented me with my first college class ring from ETSU. It was an extremely special moment that I will never forget.” 

Despite his impressive career, Dr. Stanton always prioritized his family.

“Dr. Stanton was enormously proud of his family. He adored them. Even through his demanding years as our President, he made time for them,” Noland said. “He was deeply dedicated to his wife Nancy, his children, Eric, Ryan, and Shelley, and his grandchildren. Parenting, he always said, was the most important job he ever had.”

The university grew in many ways under Dr. Stanton’s leadership. Ten new doctoral programs were established; the Gatton School of Pharmacy was founded, and Dr. Stanton was responsible for a record-breaking $6 million grant from the Kellogg Foundation for Interdisciplinary Health Care Education.

“He was a great leader for the Quillen College of Medicine and its growth through the years,” Canter said. “The QCOM seniors find out on March 17 where they will be going for residency on Match Day. Stanton enjoyed finding out where each student would be going in their next step.” 

Stanton’s own legacy in the medical field was recognized in 2016 when he was inducted into the Tennessee Healthcare Hall of Fame. During his induction speech, Stanton reflected on his career: “When I was a little boy, I only wanted to be a doctor one day, and the good Lord helped me to achieve that.” 

During his life, Stanton realized his dreams, and in his role as university president, he helped countless students work toward theirs. During his presidency, he awarded over 31,000 diplomas. 

“Dr. Stanton certainly embodied that call to serve, and I join his family, countless friends and the entire campus community in a time of remembrance and appreciation for his extraordinary life,” Noland said.

There will be a celebration of  Stanton’s life at Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church on April 10 from 2 to 3 p.m. with a reception immediately following. 

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