This paper presents an iterative linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach to the design of a static output feedback (SOF) stabilization controller. A linear penalty function is incorporated into the objective function for the non-convex rank constraint so that minimizing the penalized objective function subject to LMIs amounts to a convex optimization problem. Hence, the overall procedure results in solving a series of semidefinite programs (SDPs). With an increasing sequence of the penalty parameter, the solution of the penalized optimization problem moves towards the feasible region of the original non-convex problem. The proposed algorithm is, therefore, convergent. Extensive numerical experiments are Deformed to illustrate the proposed algorithm.