Robert Joseph Sheheen (born January 21, 1943) is an American lawyer and politician. A

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

, Sheheen served as

Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives The Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the South Carolina House of Representatives, whose main role is to ensure that general order is maintained in the house by recognizing members to speak, ensur ...

from 1986 to 1994. Sheheen was the first

Lebanese-American Lebanese Americans ( ar, أمريكيون لبنانيون) are Americans of Lebanese descent. This includes both those who are native to the United States of America, as well as immigrants from Lebanon. Lebanese Americans comprise 0.79% of the ...

to serve in the position.

Early life and education

Sheheen was born in Camden,

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. He received a bachelor's degree from Duke University in 1965 and a law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1968. Sheheen later received honorary degrees from

The Citadel The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, commonly known simply as The Citadel, is a public senior military college in Charleston, South Carolina. Established in 1842, it is one of six senior military colleges in the United States. ...

and

Winthrop University Winthrop University is a public university in Rock Hill, South Carolina. It was founded in 1886 by David Bancroft Johnson, who served as the superintendent of Columbia, South Carolina, schools. He received a grant from Robert Charles Winthrop, ...

Political career

Sheheen was a member of the

South Carolina House of Representatives The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly. It consists of 124 representatives elected to two-year terms at the same time as U.S. congressional elections. Unlike many legislatures, seati ...

from 1977 to 2000; he served as speakerLawmakers Legislative Session
/ref> from 1986 to 1994. Sheheen was Speaker of the House during the Operation Lost Trust scandal. He left the speakership in 1994 and was succeeded in the House of Representatives by his nephew,

Vincent Sheheen Vincent Austin Sheheen (born April 29, 1971) is an American attorney and politician. He was a member of the South Carolina Senate from 2004 to 2020, representing the 27th District, which comprises Chesterfield, Kershaw, and Lancaster counti ...

, in 2000.

References

External links

USC Law School Profile
1943 births Living people American politicians of Lebanese descent Duke University alumni University of South Carolina alumni South Carolina lawyers Speakers of the South Carolina House of Representatives Members of the South Carolina House of Representatives {{SouthCarolina-politician-stub American people of Lebanese descent