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Thomas F. Stroock

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thomas F. Strook
United States Ambassador to Guatemala
In office
1989–1992
Preceded byJames H. Michel
Succeeded byMarilyn McAfee
State Senator from Natrona County, Wyoming
In office
1967–1967
In office
1971–1974
In office
1979–1989
Personal details
Born(1925-10-10)October 10, 1925
New York City, U.S.
DiedDecember 13, 2009(2009-12-13) (aged 84)
Casper, Wyoming, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMarta Stroock
Children4
Residence(s)Casper, Wyoming, U.S.
Alma materYale University
OccupationOil executive
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Marine Corps
Battles/warsWorld War II

Thomas F. Stroock (October 10, 1925 – December 13, 2009) was an American businessman, ambassador, and a Republican politician from Casper, Wyoming.[1]

Biography

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Early life

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Born in New York City, Stroock attended Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, alongside future U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush. He was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity. After graduation, he served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II and then relocated to Wyoming, where he devoted his remaining years. He was brought to Casper, Wyoming in 1949 by his current employer, the Stanolind Oil and Gas Company.[2]

Career

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Upon settling in Casper, he founded several petroleum companies.

He served as a member of the Wyoming State Senate from Natrona County in 1967, from 1971 to 1974, and finally from 1979 to 1989. He was the Senate vice president in 1989.[3] In 1974, he left the state Senate to run unsuccessfully on the GOP ticket for Wyoming's at-large seat in the United States House of Representatives, having been defeated by the incumbent Democrat Teno Roncalio.

In 1989, he was named United States Ambassador to Guatemala by his former Yale classmate President Bush. He held that post until 1992.

In 1989, he was named United States Ambassador to Guatemala by his former Yale classmate President Bush.[4] He held that post until 1992. During his time as ambassador, he fought against drug trafficking. He also had to handle the case of the American nun Dianna Ortiz, who had been abducted, raped, and tortured by the Guatemalan military, with possible complicity of the United States, and whose account he was unwilling to accept.

Personal life

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He and his wife, Marta, had four daughters. He died on December 13, 2009, at the age of eighty-four.[5]

References

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  1. ^ http://wyofile.com/2009/12/tom_stroock_dies/[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Thomas F. Stroock". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved 2019-02-28.
  3. ^ "Tom Stroock". legisweb.state.wy/us. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved February 24, 2012.
  4. ^ "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR THOMAS F. STROOCK" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. 27 November 1993. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  5. ^ Former U.S. ambassador, oilman Stroock dies Trib.com Archived 2012-07-15 at archive.today
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Guatemala
October 31, 1989 – November 10, 1992
Succeeded by