Robert M. “Bob” Stanton
Eagle Scout 1951
Distinguished Eagle Scout 1990
Bob Stanton began his real estate career when he joined Goodman Segar Hogan, Inc. in 1966. Over the years, he rose through the ranks and became president in 1975. In 1986, he bought the remaining stock and later sold an interest in the company to Dominion Capital, an affiliate of Dominion Resources, Inc.
As president of a commercial real estate company, Stanton orchestrated several high-profile real estate developments in the Hampton Roads area. They include Lynnhaven Mall, Greenbrier Mall, World Trade Center, Harbourview, and 150 Main office buildings. He developed numerous other projects, including 27+ grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping centers.
In 1993, Bob retired from active participation at Goodman Segar Hogan to focus on real estate investments and personal interests. He organized Stanton Partners, Inc., specializing in commercial real estate investments. He is currently involved in the development and ownership of projects in southeastern Virginia valued at over $100 million.
A lifelong champion of his alma mater, Bob was an active alumnus of Old Dominion University, serving as rector and chair of the institution’s Real Estate Foundation and Real Estate Center. He was also chair of ACCESS College Foundation, CIVIC Leadership Institute, Virginia Maritime Heritage Foundation (Schooner Virginia), USS Wisconsin Foundation (his father was a plank owner on the battleship), Greater Norfolk Corporation, and a director of the Norfolk division of TowneBank. He was a founding member of Town Point Club, Bayville Golf Club, and the Chesapeake Bay Wine Classic Foundation, which, under his leadership, grew from a small gathering of a few wine lovers to an annual social event raising more than $1 million in a single day to provide higher education scholarships and career opportunities to youth in Hampton Roads.
Bob’s business acumen and civic leadership led four governors to appoint him to serve on the boards of Old Dominion University, the Virginia Housing Foundation, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and the Virginia Port Authority.
Highlights include First Citizen of Virginia Beach, Virginia Jaycees Five Outstanding Young Men in Virginia, Tidewater Council of the Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Eagle Scout, Colgate W. Darden Jr. Scouter Citizen of the Year, Downtown Norfolk Council Downtowner of the Year, VOLUNTEER Hampton Roads Lenora Mathews Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Robert M. Stanton Chaired Professorship in the E.V. Williams School of Real Estate at Old Dominion University.
In all aspects of his business and civic responsibilities, Bob was an unwavering champion of women in the workplace, and he always prioritized diversity. He worked hard, had a playful side, and cared deeply for people. His personal passions included golfing on the world’s finest courses, enjoying the Lynnhaven River, offshore fishing with his family and dearest friends on his beloved boat “Tippecanoe,” snow skiing in the Rocky Mountains, scuba diving, and smoking fine cigars. Most of all, he loved his family, his work, and his faithful dogs.
Stanton earned the Eagle Scout rank locally with Troop 220 in 1951. He died on September 4, 2022.