Dave Bolen

Dave Bolen
Ambassador Bolen (R) with General Secretary Erich Honecker (L), March 1978
United States Ambassador to East Germany
In office August 22, 1977 – June 20, 1980
President	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	John Sherman Cooper
Succeeded by	Herbert S. Okun
United States Ambassador to Lesotho
In office April 25, 1974 – August 11, 1976
President	Richard Nixon Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Charles J. Nelson
Succeeded by	Donald R. Norland
United States Ambassador to Swaziland
In office April 22, 1974 – August 11, 1976
President	Richard Nixon Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Charles J. Nelson
Succeeded by	Donald R. Norland
United States Ambassador to Botswana
In office April 11, 1974 – August 11, 1976
President	Richard Nixon Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Charles J. Nelson
Succeeded by	Donald R. Norland
Personal details
Born	David Benjamin Bolen (1923-12-23) December 23, 1923 Heflin, Louisiana, U.S.
Spouse	Betty L. Gayden ​ (m. 1949)​
Children	3
Alma mater	Southern University University of Colorado Boulder Harvard University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Army Air Corps
Years of service	1943-1946

David Benjamin "Dave" Bolen (born December 23, 1923) is an American track and field athlete, Olympian, diplomat and businessman.

Bolen competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in the 400 metres. He finished fourth in the final behind Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley and Mal Whitfield.

Bolen's later career took him to the US State Department in 1950. In 1974, he served as ambassador to Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana simultaneously, while keeping residence in Gaborone. In 1977, the German speaking Bolen was appointed and confirmed as US Ambassador to the German Democratic Republic. He was the first African-American to serve as ambassador to a nation behind the Iron Curtain. He served until 1980.

References

• Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Dave Bolen". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2016-12-04.
• http://www.blackpast.org/aah/bolen-david-benjamin-1923
• https://web.archive.org/web/20140212082044/http://www.coloradanmagazine.org/2013/03/01/running-down-dream/
• http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=920399
• http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=7770 United States Ambassador to the German Democratic Republic Nomination of David B. Bolen.

July 8, 1977

• http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_21168978/first-cu-boulder-olympian-games-are-not-something