Robert E. Carter (October 7, 1939 – January 5, 2015) was an American politician and schoolteacher from Tennessee.

Biography

Carter was born in Scott County, Virginia to Robert and Estelle Carter. He attended Virginia High School in

Bristol, Virginia Bristol is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,219. It is the twin city of Bristol, Tennessee, just across the state line, which runs down the middle of its main street, State S ...

and earned a BS and MS in education from the University of Tennessee, where he also played for the school's basketball team. After serving as an assistant coach for the 1961–1962 season, Carter left Tennessee. He then taught and coached at

Beaver High School Beaver Area School District is a suburban, public school district in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The district encompasses approximately serving the Boroughs of Beaver and Bridgewater and Brighton Township and Vanport Township in Beaver Coun ...

in Pennsylvania, Humboldt High School in Humboldt, Tennessee and Union University. Later, he worked for Coca-Cola in Jackson. Carter became a board member of three national organizations with branches in Jackson, the Boys and Girls Club,

Salvation Army Salvation (from Latin: ''salvatio'', from ''salva'', 'safe, saved') is the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In religion and theology, ''salvation'' generally refers to the deliverance of the soul from sin and its c ...

and West Tennessee United Way, as well as many other local groups. He helped found the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation. A Republican, Carter defeated Joe McKnight in the 1994 election. Carter served on three committees throughout his time in office: Commerce, Labor and Agriculture, Education and Government Operations. He lost the 2002 election, and was succeeded by

Don McLeary Howard Donald McLeary (born January 2, 1948) is an American politician and former college football player and coach. He was a member of the Tennessee Senate representing the 27th district, which is composed of Madison, Gibson, and Carroll coun ...

. Carter was diagnosed with

multiple sclerosis Multiple (cerebral) sclerosis (MS), also known as encephalomyelitis disseminata or disseminated sclerosis, is the most common demyelinating disease, in which the insulating covers of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are damaged. This d ...

in the 1980s. He died on January 5, 2015.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carter, Bobby 1939 births 2015 deaths People from Jackson, Tennessee People from Scott County, Virginia Tennessee Volunteers basketball players Republican Party Tennessee state senators Union University Deaths from multiple sclerosis People with multiple sclerosis Neurological disease deaths in the United States American politicians with disabilities American men's basketball players Tennessee Volunteers basketball coaches High school basketball coaches in Tennessee Basketball coaches from Tennessee