Robert Stephen Poydasheff (13 February 1930 – 24 September 2020){{cite news | url = http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/CL/lib00114,0EB5946307DC37E2.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130629233708/http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/CL/lib00114,0EB5946307DC37E2.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 29, 2013 | title = Bob Poydasheff | work = Ledger-Enquirer | location = Columbus, Georgia | date = July 14, 1994}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mcmullenfuneralhome.com/obituary/ColonelRtandFormerMayorRobertBob-PoydasheffSr|title=Obituary for Colonel Rt. and Former Mayor Robert "Bob Poydasheff, Sr. | McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory|first=McMullen Funeral Home and|last=Crematory|website=Obituary for Colonel Rt. and Former Mayor Robert "Bob Poydasheff, Sr. | McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory}}{{cite web|title=Honorary Ranger Hall of Fame Inductee: Retired Colonel Robert S. Poydasheff|url=https://www.facebook.com/75thRangerRegiment1942/photos/a.229376993744666/1343201159028905/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/190158030999896/1343201159028905 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|website=75th Ranger Regiment |via=Facebook |date=May 25, 2016|access-date=December 16, 2018}}{{cbignore}} was an American attorney and politician who served one term as mayor of Columbus, Georgia, from 2003 to 2007. A retired military officer, he served in the United States Army for twenty-four years, retiring at the rank of colonel.

Early life and education

Poydasheff was born and raised in The Bronx in New York City; he attended DeWitt Clinton High School.{{cite web|first=Chuck|last=Williams|title=Sunday Interview with Bob Poydasheff: 'Fort Benning is Columbus and Columbus is Fort Benning'|url=https://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/local/article29433055.html|work=Ledger-Enquirer|date=March 14, 2015|accessdate=December 16, 2018}}

He earned a B.A. in political science from The Citadel in 1954, a J.D. from Tulane University Law School in 1957, an M.A. in international relations from Boston University's Graduate Program in Berlin, Germany in 1967, and attended The Hague Academy of International Law in The Netherlands.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}

Military service

In May 1955, Poydasheff was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry branch of the United States Army. After going on leave without pay to attend law school, he was reassigned to the Judge Advocate General's Corps. His assignments included acting as chief counsel to several high-ranking officers involved in the My Lai massacre and the Post Exchange scandal.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} A 1976 graduate of the United States Army War College, he served a total of twenty-four years, retiring as a colonel in 1979. In 2012, the Army War College Foundation named Colonel Poydasheff an Outstanding Alumnus in recognition of his wide-ranging service to his community after his retirement from active duty.{{Cite web|url=https://usawc.org/outstanding-alum-program/|title=Outstanding Alum Program | Army War College Foundation, INC.|website=usawc.org|date=27 June 2019 }}

Political career

Poydasheff served on the Columbus city council from 1994 to 2002.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} He was elected mayor in 2002, defeating fellow counselor Richard H. Smith and former state representative Jed Harris.{{cite web|first=Richard|last=Hyatt|title=Poydasheff wins mayoral race with assist from Smyre|url=http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/4067147.htm|work=Ledger-Enquirer|date=September 13, 2002}}{{Dead link|date=December 2018}} He was unsuccessful in his 2006 bid for re-election to a second term and was succeeded by former Columbus police chief Jim Wetherington.{{cite web|title=Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Coverage of 2006 Election Results|url=http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/15954134.htm}}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

A Republican, Poydasheff described himself as ideologically similar to Colin Powell. He supported Democrat Teresa Tomlinson in her successful 2010 mayoral run.{{cite web|title=Colonel Likes the Lady|url=http://columbusga.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-of-columbus-you-had-me-laughing.html|date=June 14, 2010|accessdate=December 16, 2018}}

Personal life

Poydasheff was married to the former Anastasia "Stacy" Catherine Latto,{{citation needed|date=June 2012}} and had two children, Catherine Alexandra Ross and Robert S. Poydasheff Jr. Poydasheff died on 24 September 2020 after a brief illness.{{cite web |url=https://www.wrbl.com/news/former-columbus-mayor-bob-poydasheff-dies-after-a-brief-illness/ |title = Former Columbus Mayor Bob Poydasheff dies after a brief illness {{!}} WRBL|date = 24 September 2020}}