Elizabeth Colbert Busch

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Colbert Busch is the eighth of the eleven children of James William Colbert Jr., who served as the first Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Medical University of South Carolina, and homemaker Lorna (née Tuck) Colbert. {{cite web | url=http://www.courant.com/news/politics/sns-rt-us-usa-politics-colbertbre90h1dt-20130118,0,2238462.story | title =Comedian Stephen Colbert's sister to run for Congress | publisher =Hartford Courant | access-date =January 18, 2013}}{{dead link|date=May 2013}}{{cite web| url =http://dev.musc.edu/development/news/archives/2009_07.pdf| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120227131106/http://dev.musc.edu/development/news/archives/2009_07.pdf| url-status =dead| archive-date =February 27, 2012| title =MUSC honors memory of Dr. Jim Colbert| publisher =dev.musc.edu| access-date =January 18, 2013}}

The Colbert family is of 15/16ths Irish ancestry; one of her paternal great-great-grandmothers was of German and English descent.Smolenyak, Megan. {{cite news|url=http://irishamerica.com/2015/01/stephen-colbert-one-last-report-its-genealogical|title=Stephen Colbert: One Last Report (It's Genealogical)|work=Irish America Magazine|access-date=March 26, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317031748/http://irishamerica.com/2015/01/stephen-colbert-one-last-report-its-genealogical/|archive-date=March 17, 2015}}{{cite news|last=Gagnon|first=Geoffrey|title=Top of Mind: Extended Q & A with Henry Louis Gates Jr.|work=Boston|year=2010|url=http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/skipgates/page2|access-date=February 4, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229050129/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/skipgates/page2|archive-date=February 29, 2012}} Many of her ancestors emigrated from Ireland to North America in the 19th century before and during the Great Famine.[https://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/stephen-colbert/11/ "Faces of America: Stephen Colbert"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310164800/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/stephen-colbert/11/ |date=March 10, 2010 }}, PBS, Faces of America series, with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2010).[http://colbert.ancestortree.net/pedigree.php "Pedigree of Stephen Colbert"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214231610/http://colbert.ancestortree.net/pedigree.php |date=February 14, 2017 }}, AncestorTree.net; retrieved August 29, 2010.{{cite web|first = Maureen|last = Dowd|author-link= Maureen Dowd|url = https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/jon_stewart_stephen_colbert_americas_anchors/page/1|title = America's Anchors|publisher = Rolling Stone|date = November 16, 2006|access-date = December 9, 2006|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061209233523/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/jon_stewart_stephen_colbert_americas_anchors/page/1 |archive-date = December 9, 2006}}

Colbert Busch briefly attended the University of South Carolina, but returned to Charleston after her father and two brothers Peter and Paul were among the 71 passengers who died on Eastern Air Lines Flight 212, in 1974.{{cite news | url =https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-colbert-on-insincerity/ | title =Stephen Colbert On Insincerity | publisher =CBS News | date =February 11, 2009 | access-date =January 18, 2013 | archive-date =October 21, 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121021002911/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/28/60minutes/main1559833.shtml | url-status =live }} She then enrolled in the College of Charleston, receiving her B.A. in Intermodal Transportation and Logistics Management, and was named to the National Dean's List in 1988.{{cite web|title=Biography of Elizabeth Colbert-Busch|url=http://www.cwitsc.org/documents/Bio06_Colbert-Busch.pdf|publisher=Charleston Women in International Trade|access-date=24 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124083559/http://www.cwitsc.org/documents/Bio06_Colbert-Busch.pdf|archive-date=2013-01-24|url-status=dead}}

After graduating, she completed a South Carolina State Ports Authority business development internship, and worked for Associated Maritime Industries Inc, as a liaison between the AMI and the U.S. Federal and State Governments. She then worked as the Regional Director for Sales and Marketing and the Director of Business Development at Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), where she was responsible for international maritime relations and South Atlantic and North American sales.{{cite web | url =http://www.scitc.org/Archives/SCITC_12/documents/SCITC_2012_MASTER_PROGRAM_FULL.pdf | title =S.C. International Trade Conference | publisher =scitc.org | access-date =January 18, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121204123344/http://www.scitc.org/Archives/SCITC_12/documents/SCITC_2012_MASTER_PROGRAM_FULL.pdf | archive-date =December 4, 2012 | url-status =dead }}{{cite web | url=http://aweaoff12.mapyourshow.com/5_0/sessions/speaker.cfm?speakerid=18AACAC2&CFID=63931157&CFTOKEN=1fd1b28cb2a1516-BF547288-CB70-3B44-6A43FC6CCBCA1AFC | title=Speaker InformationElizabeth Colbert-Busch | publisher=aweaoff12.mapyourshow.com | access-date=January 18, 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216113833/http://aweaoff12.mapyourshow.com/5_0/sessions/speaker.cfm?speakerid=18AACAC2&CFID=63931157&CFTOKEN=1fd1b28cb2a1516-BF547288-CB70-3B44-6A43FC6CCBCA1AFC | archive-date=2013-02-16 | url-status=dead }} She left OOCL in 2008, when she was hired as Director of Business Development at Clemson University's Restoration Institute, described by the Charleston Post and Courier as "the school's corporate matchmaker" for the university's development projects for wind turbine testing, water studies, and renewable energy.{{cite web | url =http://www.clemson.edu/media-relations/archive/newsroom/articles/2008/february/Elizabeth_Colbert_Busch.php5 | title =Clemson hires development director for Restoration Institute | publisher =clemson.edu | date =February 26, 2008 | access-date =January 18, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130122013704/http://www.clemson.edu/media-relations/archive/newsroom/articles/2008/february/Elizabeth_Colbert_Busch.php5 | archive-date =2013-01-22 | url-status =dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/01/18/elizabeth_colbert_busch_stephen_colbert_s_sister_to_run_for_congr.html | title =Stephen Colbert's Sister To Run For Congress | publisher =Slate | access-date =January 18, 2013| date =2013-01-18 }} Colbert Busch also works as the Director of Sales and Marketing for Clemson's Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility.{{cite web |url=http://gawker.com/5977213/stephen-colberts-sister-joins-race-for-congressional-seat-vacated-by-south-carolina-senator-tim-scott |title=Stephen Colbert's Sister Joins Race for Congressional Seat Vacated by South Carolina Senator Tim Scott |publisher=gawker.com |access-date=January 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120111656/http://gawker.com/5977213/stephen-colberts-sister-joins-race-for-congressional-seat-vacated-by-south-carolina-senator-tim-scott |archive-date=January 20, 2013 }}

Colbert Busch is a founder and former member of the Executive Board of Directors of Charleston Women in International Trade, and former member of the College of Charleston's Business College Alumni Advisory Board.{{cite web | url=http://www.rcmpsc.org/downloads/RotaryBulletin8.22.12.pdf | title=Our Speaker 8/29/12 - Elizabeth Colbert-Busch, Clemson Director of Business Development | publisher=rcmpsc.org | access-date=January 18, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055704/http://www.rcmpsc.org/downloads/RotaryBulletin8.22.12.pdf | archive-date=March 4, 2016 | url-status=usurped }} She has served as chairwoman of the 2006 S.C. International Trade Conference, the chairwoman of the Maritime Association Port of Charleston and is board member of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.{{cite web | url =http://www.rcmpsc.org/downloads/RotaryBulletin%208.29.12.pdf | title =Today's Speaker - Elizabeth Colbert-Busch, Clemson Director of Business Development | publisher =rcmpsc.org | author =Josh Voorhees | access-date =January 18, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160309030522/http://rcmpsc.org/downloads/rotarybulletin%208.29.12.pdf | archive-date =March 9, 2016 | url-status =usurped }}{{cite web | url=http://www.abcnews4.com/story/14433292/elizabeth-colbert-busch-honored | title =Elizabeth Colbert Busch honored | publisher =abcnews4.com | date =April 12, 2011 | access-date =January 18, 2013}}

{{Main|2013 South Carolina's 1st congressional district special election}}

On January 18, 2013, Colbert Busch announced that she would run as a Democrat in the 2013 special election for South Carolina's 1st congressional district to fill the vacancy created when Tim Scott was appointed to the United States Senate after incumbent Senator Jim DeMint resigned to head conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation.{{cite web | url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/stephen-colbert-sister-plans-run-congress-86400.html | title =No joke: Stephen Colbert's sister plans House bid | publisher =Politico | access-date =January 18, 2013}} In the March 19 Democratic primary, she was to face Charleston businessman Martin Skelly, the founder of the Russian-based private equity firm UFG Asset Management.{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/139691-democrat-announces-run-for-tim-scotts-house-seat/ | title =Democrat announces run for Tim Scott's House seat | publisher =thehill.com | access-date =January 18, 2013| date =2013-01-18 }}

On February 11, 2013, Martin Skelly dropped out of the race, endorsing Colbert Busch.{{cite web|url=http://atr.rollcall.com/south-carolina-skelly-exits-special-colberts-sister-now-top-dem-contender/|title=South Carolina: Skelly Exits Special Election; Colbert's Sister Now Top Democratic Contender|date=February 11, 2013|access-date=February 23, 2013|work=Roll Call|first=Joshua|last=Miller}}

On March 19, 2013, Colbert Busch handily won the Democratic primary with over 95% of the vote compared to perennial candidate Ben Frasier's 4%. In the special election she was defeated by former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/19/elizabeth-colbert-busch-wins_n_2911914.html |title=Elizabeth Colbert Busch Wins Democratic Primary In South Carolina 1st District |publisher=HuffPost |date= March 19, 2013|access-date=2013-05-02 |first=Chris |last=Gentilviso}}{{cite web |last1=Isenstadt |first1=Alex |title=How Colbert Busch flipped script on Sanford |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/05/elizabeth-colbert-busch-south-carolina-election-090899 |website=POLITICO |access-date=21 August 2020 |language=en}} Colbert Busch garnered 45.3% of the vote compared to Sanford's 54.2%.{{cite news|url=http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/2013/mark-sanford-vs-elizabeth-colbert-busch-sc1 |title=Live Results: Sanford vs. Colbert Busch |publisher=HuffPost |access-date=2013-05-08 |first=Aaron |last=Bycoffe}}

Colbert Busch supported background checks as part of a gun control bill that was defeated by the U.S. Senate.{{cite web | url=http://ivn.us/icon/2013/04/29/mark-sanford-and-elizabeth-colbert-busch-debate-at-the-citadel/ | title=Mark Sanford and Elizabeth Colbert Busch Debate at The Citadel – ICON | publisher=Ivn.us | access-date=2013-05-02 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602020431/http://ivn.us/icon/2013/04/29/mark-sanford-and-elizabeth-colbert-busch-debate-at-the-citadel/ | archive-date=2 June 2013}}

Elizabeth Colbert Busch is married to Claus Wyman Busch III. She has three children with her ex-husband Robert Legare: Mary Legare Middleton (grandchildren Elizabeth Ann and Thomas Bradley Middleton Jr.); Robert Walker Legare Jr; and Catherine Ann Legare.

She was arrested in 1988 for contempt of court during her divorce from her previous husband.{{cite web|title=Colbert Busch discusses 1988 contempt-of-court arrest with Charleston news affiliate|url=http://www.islandpacket.com/2013/05/07/2493618/colbert-busch-discusses-1988-contempt.html|work=The Island Packet|date=7 May 2013|access-date=13 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607020400/http://www.islandpacket.com/2013/05/07/2493618/colbert-busch-discusses-1988-contempt.html|archive-date=7 June 2013|url-status=dead}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{C-SPAN|70606}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130124083559/http://www.cwitsc.org/documents/Bio06_Colbert-Busch.pdf Founding Member profile] at Charleston Women in International Trade (CWIT)
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=144292 | fec=H4SC01172 | congress= }}

{{Stephen Colbert}}

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Category:Stephen Colbert

Category:1954 births

Category:American people of English descent

Category:American people of German descent

Category:American people of Irish descent

Category:Clemson University people

Elizabeth Colbert Busch

Category:College of Charleston alumni

Category:Living people

Category:People from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Category:People from St. Louis

Category:South Carolina Democrats

Category:University of South Carolina alumni