Spouse:
Marcea (also listed as Marcia)
Children:
Three children: Randy Jr. (son), Shomari (son), Malaika (daughter)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
When elected in 1980, he was the Legislature's only black member. (Minneapolis Star, May 18, 1981)
He was a member of Zion Baptist Church.
"[He] won a scholarship to play football for the University of Minnesota, where he was recruited by [the] Golden Gopher coach . . .he played two years of professional football, the last year with the New York Giants in 1967." (Star Tribune obituary, June 12, 2020)
"Randy led the fight to get the state of Minnesota to disinvest its funds in South Africa. . . . Staten also spearheaded passage of the African-American Heritage Act, which required child protection agencies seeking to place black children for adoption and foster care with relatives or other black families. . . .He also led the effort to have Martin Luther King's birthday become a state holiday." (Star Tribune obituary, June 12, 2020)
"Staten struggled with drug addiction. In 1985, while a legislator, he was arrested on suspicion of writing 76 bad checks totaling $8,200 and pleaded guilty to theft of more than $250. He was sentenced to two years of probation. After a move to expel him from the Legislature failed, Staten was censured, and did not run for re-election." (Star Tribune obituary, June 12, 2020)
On March 13, 1986, after five hours of proceedings, the attempt to expel Staten failed 80-52. He was censured on a 99-31 vote. It is believed to be the first time a legislator was publicly censured. (Star Tribune, March 14, 1986)
"He became an ordained minister, serving at two of the most prominent black churches in Minneapolis -- Zion Baptist Church, and later, New Salem Missionary Baptist Church." (Star Tribune obituary, June 12, 2020)
He died in Charlotte, North Carolina. His funeral was held on June 13, 2020 at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Minneapolis.
Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1981-82.