William B. Edmondson
Encyclopedia
William B. Edmondson is a retired career officer in the United States Foreign Service
, who served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of South Africa from 1978-1981.
through his high school years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1948. He received an A.B. from the University of Nebraska in 1950 and an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University
in 1951.
Edmondson joined the United States Department of State
as an intern in 1951. From 1952 to 1955, he was Consul and deputy principal officer in Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika. From 1955 to 1957, he was economic officer in Bern, Switzerland. In 1957-58, he pursued African area studies at Northwestern University
.
From 1958 to 1960 Edmondson was an intelligence research specialist at the State Department. In 1960 and 1961 he was acting chief of the West Africa
Division of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research
. He was political officer in Accra, Ghana from 1961 to 1964, and officer in charge of Ghana affairs at the State Department from 1964 to 1965.
Edmondson was deputy chief of mission in Lusaka, Zambia, from 1965 to 1969. He attended the National War College
in 1969-70 and served as educational and cultural affairs officer at the State Department in 1970 and 1971. From 1971 to 1974, he was Director of the Office of African Programs in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
. From 1974 to 1976, Edmondson was Deputy Chief of Mission
in South Africa.
Following the completion of his service as the American Ambassador to South Africa in 1981, he served in the Inspector General
’s Office at the U.S. Department of State until his retirement in 1986.
Throughout his career, Edmondson served with the able support of his wife, Donna Kiechel Edmondson, also originally from Nebraska. Their two children are Paul William Edmondson of Washington, D.C.
, and Barbara Edmondson Schneider of Prescott, Arizona
(both born in Dar es Salaam, now Tanzania). Their grandchildren are Aaron and Katy Schneider, and Michael and Masha Edmondson.
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
, who served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the Republic of South Africa from 1978-1981.
Biography
Edmondson was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, and lived in Peru, NebraskaPeru, Nebraska
Peru is a city in Nemaha County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 569 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Peru is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
through his high school years. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1948. He received an A.B. from the University of Nebraska in 1950 and an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
in 1951.
Edmondson joined the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
as an intern in 1951. From 1952 to 1955, he was Consul and deputy principal officer in Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika. From 1955 to 1957, he was economic officer in Bern, Switzerland. In 1957-58, he pursued African area studies at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
From 1958 to 1960 Edmondson was an intelligence research specialist at the State Department. In 1960 and 1961 he was acting chief of the West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
Division of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research
Bureau of Intelligence and Research
The Bureau of Intelligence and Research is an intelligence bureau in the U.S. State Department tasked with analyzing information. Originally founded as the Research and Analysis Branch of the Office of Strategic Services , it was transferred to the State Department at the end of World War II...
. He was political officer in Accra, Ghana from 1961 to 1964, and officer in charge of Ghana affairs at the State Department from 1964 to 1965.
Edmondson was deputy chief of mission in Lusaka, Zambia, from 1965 to 1969. He attended the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in 1969-70 and served as educational and cultural affairs officer at the State Department in 1970 and 1971. From 1971 to 1974, he was Director of the Office of African Programs in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world...
. From 1974 to 1976, Edmondson was Deputy Chief of Mission
Deputy Chief of Mission
A Deputy Chief of Mission , is the number-two diplomat assigned to an embassy or other diplomatic mission. He or she is usually considered the second-in-command or top lieutenant to the Head of Mission...
in South Africa.
Following the completion of his service as the American Ambassador to South Africa in 1981, he served in the Inspector General
Inspector General
An Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
’s Office at the U.S. Department of State until his retirement in 1986.
Throughout his career, Edmondson served with the able support of his wife, Donna Kiechel Edmondson, also originally from Nebraska. Their two children are Paul William Edmondson of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and Barbara Edmondson Schneider of Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
(both born in Dar es Salaam, now Tanzania). Their grandchildren are Aaron and Katy Schneider, and Michael and Masha Edmondson.