Former ETSU President Dr. Paul Stanton, Jr. dead at 81

Former East Tennessee State University president Dr. Paul Stanton, Jr. died at his home Thursday after a lengthy illness, according to a family statement.

The 81-year-old was a native of Atlanta and relocated to Johnson City in 1985 in his role as a vascular surgeon. Stanton would become ETSU’s 8th president in 1997 and served in that role for 15 years.

He was also instrumental in the creation of the school’s Gatton College of Pharmacy and served as the dean of the Quillen College of Medicine.

Stanton was inducted into the Tennessee Health Care Hall of Fame in 2016.

(IMAGE: Property of Tennessee Hall of Fame / tnhealthcarehall.com)