Robert Stephen Poydasheff (13 February 1930 – 24 September 2020)[1][2][3] was an American attorney and politician who served one term as mayor of Columbus, Georgia, from 2003 to 2007. A retired military officer, he served in the United States Army for twenty-four years, retiring at the rank of colonel.
Early life and education
Poydasheff was born and raised in The Bronx in New York City; he attended DeWitt Clinton High School.[4]
He earned a B.A. in political science from The Citadel in 1954,[1] a J.D. from Tulane University Law School in 1957,[1] an M.A. in international relations from Boston University's Graduate Program in Berlin, Germany in 1967,[1] and attended The Hague Academy of International Law in The Netherlands.[citation needed]
Military service
In May 1955, Poydasheff was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry branch of the United States Army.[3] After going on leave without pay to attend law school, he was reassigned to the Judge Advocate General's Corps. His assignments included acting as chief counsel to several high-ranking officers involved in the My Lai Massacre and the Post Exchange scandal.[citation needed] A 1976 graduate of the United States Army War College, he served a total of twenty-four years, retiring as a colonel in 1979.[3] In 2012, the Army War College Foundation named Colonel Poydasheff an Outstanding Alumnus in recognition of his wide-ranging service to his community after his retirement from active duty.[5]
Political career
Poydasheff served on the Columbus city council from 1994 to 2002.[citation needed] He was elected mayor in 2002, defeating fellow counselor Richard H. Smith and former state representative Jed Harris.[6] He was unsuccessful in his 2006 bid for re-election to a second term and was succeeded by former Columbus police chief Jim Wetherington.[7]
A Republican, Poydasheff described himself as ideologically similar to Colin Powell. He supported Democrat Teresa Tomlinson in her successful 2010 mayoral run.[8]
Personal life
Poydasheff was married to the former Anastasia "Stacy" Catherine Latto,[citation needed] and had two children, Catherine Alexandra Ross and Robert S. Poydasheff Jr.[1] Poydasheff died on 24 September 2020 after a brief illness.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Bob Poydasheff". Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus, Georgia. July 14, 1994. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013.
- ^ Crematory, McMullen Funeral Home and. "Obituary for Colonel Rt. and Former Mayor Robert "Bob Poydasheff, Sr. | McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory". Obituary for Colonel Rt. and Former Mayor Robert "Bob Poydasheff, Sr. | McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory.
- ^ a b c "Honorary Ranger Hall of Fame Inductee: Retired Colonel Robert S. Poydasheff". 75th Ranger Regiment. May 25, 2016. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved December 16, 2018 – via Facebook.
- ^ Williams, Chuck (March 14, 2015). "Sunday Interview with Bob Poydasheff: 'Fort Benning is Columbus and Columbus is Fort Benning'". Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ "Outstanding Alum Program | Army War College Foundation, INC". usawc.org.
- ^ Hyatt, Richard (September 13, 2002). "Poydasheff wins mayoral race with assist from Smyre". Ledger-Enquirer.[dead link]
- ^ "Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Coverage of 2006 Election Results".[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Colonel Likes the Lady". June 14, 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ "Former Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff dies after a brief illness | WRBL". 24 September 2020.
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