Charles Swindells
Encyclopedia
Charles Joseph "Butch" Swindells is a former United States Ambassador to New Zealand
and Samoa
. He was appointed to the position by U.S. President George W. Bush
, with the strong support of his home state of Oregon
's two U.S. Senators. He served from 2001 to 2005.
Swindells earned a B.S. from Lewis & Clark College
in 1964, and served as a trustee there from 1998 to 2001. He also attended Willamette University College of Law
. After law school, he went into finance and investing. In 1968, he and law school roommate Jeffrey Grayson
founded Capital Consultants together; Swindells left that company in 1985 (and was not involved in the company's financial scandal of the late 1990s). He later co-founded Capital Trust Co., which became one of the largest trust companies in the Northwest, in 1981.
Swindells has served on the board of directors of Swift Energy Company and The Greenbrier Companies
.
United States Ambassador to New Zealand
The United States has maintained a consular presence in New Zealand since 1838. The first consul was James Reddy Clendon. Born in England, Clendon was a ship owner and merchant who bought land and settled in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. In 1838 he was appointed by the federal government of the...
and Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. He was appointed to the position by U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, with the strong support of his home state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
's two U.S. Senators. He served from 2001 to 2005.
Swindells earned a B.S. from Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College
Lewis & Clark College is a private institution of higher learning located in Portland, Oregon. Made up of an undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences, a School of Law, and a Graduate School of Education and Counseling. Lewis & Clark is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges with athletic...
in 1964, and served as a trustee there from 1998 to 2001. He also attended Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
. After law school, he went into finance and investing. In 1968, he and law school roommate Jeffrey Grayson
Jeffrey Grayson
Jeffrey Lloyd Grayson was an American businessman and criminal. A native of Oregon, he co-founded and later served as Chief executive officer of Capital Consultants. Grayson made legally questionable loans to Wilshire Credit Corporation and its CEO Andrew Wiederhorn...
founded Capital Consultants together; Swindells left that company in 1985 (and was not involved in the company's financial scandal of the late 1990s). He later co-founded Capital Trust Co., which became one of the largest trust companies in the Northwest, in 1981.
Swindells has served on the board of directors of Swift Energy Company and The Greenbrier Companies
The Greenbrier Companies
The Greenbrier Companies is a publicly traded transportation manufacturing corporation based in Lake Oswego, Oregon, United States. Predominantly an American company, Greenbrier specializes in transportation services, notably barge and railroad car manufacturing, railroad car refurbishment, and...
.