Robert “Bob” Sanders was a native of Oklahoma who earned his master’s degree in political administration from the University of Oklahoma. He served three and a half years as a commissioned officer in the Marine Corps and later worked as president of his company Survey Research Associates of Oklahoma City. He was also the author of several books on governmental affairs.
Sanders was appointed Leon County Administrator in January 1973. He served a little more than a year before resigning on April 1, 1974, to accept the position of City Manager in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.