Bucks County politician Pat Deon is stepping down as the head of SEPTA’s board, a role he has held since 1999, writes Chris Compendio for the Philly Voice.  

65-year-old Deon mostly kept a low profile during his tenure while retaining an influential role in the wider community.  

Also serving as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commissioner, Deon is a jack of all trades—including that of a beer distributor entrepreneur, a real estate mogul, and a casino stakeholder. He also reported income from an AM Radio station in Levittown.  

Deon announced his retirement from the board last year, and will attend his last SEPTA meeting on Jan. 25, when his current-five-year term ends.  

Montgomery County’s Ken Lawrence, who is currently the SEPTA board’s vice chairman, will fill the role until a new chair is appointed.  

During his time on the board, Deon used his connections with lawmakers to benefit the transit system. His most notable contributions include helping pass a law to establish “predictable funding”.  

Since Deon joined the board in 1995, SEPTA has seen the reconstruction of a significant stretch of West Philly’s Market Frankford Line, the beginning of selling station naming rights, and a SEPTA Key payment system. 

Read more about SEPTA board chair Pat Deon’s many leadership roles in the Philly Voice.  

SEPTA to change name, look to rail lines to make public transit system easier to use