Robert D. "Bob" Coble (born April 27, 1953) is an attorney, and served as the 69th
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...
of
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is List of municipalities in South Carolina, the second-mo ...
.
Early life, education and career
Coble, a resident of Columbia, graduated from
Dreher High School in 1971 where he was student body president.
Coble graduated from the
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina (USC, SC, or Carolina) is a Public university, public research university in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1801 as South Carolina College, It is the flagship of the University of South Car ...
in 1975 cum laude and the
University of South Carolina School of Law in 1978 cum laude.
Political career
Mayor of Columbia
Coble was elected Mayor of Columbia South Carolina in 1990 and served until 2010. He was elected Mayor five times and in his last re-election in 2006 received 64% of the citywide vote.
In 1994 Coble and Columbia business leaders brought a lawsuit to remove the
Confederate Flag from the Dome of the South Carolina State House.
Richland County Council
Coble was elected to the
Richland County Council in 1985 and served until 1988.
Post-mayoral activities
Coble is an attorney with the Maynard Nexsen Law Firm in Columbia where he chairs the firm's South Carolina Public Policy and Government Affairs Group.
Coble is the Chair of the Columbia World Affairs Council and serves on the South Carolina Advisory Committee of the
U.S. Global Leadership Coalition..
Personal life
Coble married Beth McLeod, the daughter of former South Carolina Attorney General
Daniel R. McLeod in 1978. They are the parents of six children and twelve grandchildren. Coble's son, Daniel Coble, was elected in February 2022 by the South Carolina Legislature as a State Circuit Court Judge.
On April 15, 2015, Coble had a heart attack in the South Carolina Statehouse while working there as a lobbyist and lawyer, but made a full recovery by August.
Honors and recognitions
Coble's honors and recognitions include:
* Global Vision Award, World Affairs Council, 2008
* The Richland One School District Hall of Fame, 2007
* Order of the Palmetto, Governor
Mark Sanford
Marshall Clement "Mark" Sanford Jr. (born May 28, 1960) is an American politician and author who served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 1st congressional district from 1995 to 2001 and from 2013 to 2019, and as the 115th govern ...
, June 2010.
At his retirement Columbia City Council named the portion of the Three Rivers Greenway behind EdVenture Children's Museum, Coble Plaza in his honor. Coble Plaza was dedicated and opened on July 3, 2013.
References
External links
Mayor's page, City of Columbia website, 2009
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coble, Bob
1953 births
Living people
20th-century mayors of places in South Carolina
21st-century mayors of places in South Carolina
Mayors of Columbia, South Carolina
South Carolina Democrats