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. In 2012, Bolen told The Boulder Daily Camera that "The Olympics is not something you train for. You have to have talent, world-class talent. You have to use that talent for the benefit of yourself and others."[1] Bolen first discovered that he had that talent when he raced other children during an Easter egg hunt during his childhood and found that he was faster. He later decided he wanted to use his "foot speed" to gain a college education.[2]
Bolen graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1950, and was the university's first Olympic athlete.[3] Before serving for two years in the Army Air Force in WWII,[4] he attended Southern University in New Orleans; after his service, he was recruited by CU Boulder track and field coach Frank Potts.[2]
Later, Bolen's career took him to the US State Department. In 1974, President Richard Nixon appointed him ambassador to Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana simultaneously, while keeping residence in Gaborone. In 1977, the German-speaking Bolen was appointed by President Jimmy Carter 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. As an ambassador to East Germany, Bolen helped to lay the groundwork for the destruction of the Berlin Wall. On November 9, 1989, the day the wall came down, Bolen's daughter, Cynthia, was photographed handing a long-stemmed rose to an East German border guard standing atop the wall.[5] He also worked to help free Nelson Mandela from prison.[2]
Bolen died on December 10, 2022, at the age of 98.[6]
^"Boulder diplomat's daughter remembers Berlin Wall". www.dailycamera.com. 2009-11-09. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
^Life Celebrated For Ambassador Dave Bolen, Cu’s First Olympian
Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2020-04-18.
dave, bolen, david, benjamin, bolen, december, 1923, december, 2022, american, track, field, athlete, olympian, diplomat, businessman, bolen, 1979united, states, ambassador, east, germanyin, office, august, 1977, june, 1980presidentjimmy, carterpreceded, byjoh. David Benjamin Bolen December 23 1923 December 10 2022 was an American track and field athlete Olympian diplomat and businessman Dave BolenBolen in 1979United States Ambassador to East GermanyIn office August 22 1977 June 20 1980PresidentJimmy CarterPreceded byJohn Sherman CooperSucceeded byHerbert S OkunUnited States Ambassador to LesothoIn office April 25 1974 August 11 1976PresidentRichard Nixon Gerald FordPreceded byCharles J NelsonSucceeded byDonald R NorlandUnited States Ambassador to SwazilandIn office April 22 1974 August 11 1976PresidentRichard Nixon Gerald FordPreceded byCharles J NelsonSucceeded byDonald R NorlandUnited States Ambassador to BotswanaIn office April 11 1974 August 11 1976PresidentRichard Nixon Gerald FordPreceded byCharles J NelsonSucceeded byDonald R NorlandPersonal detailsBornDavid Benjamin Bolen 1923 12 23 December 23 1923Heflin Louisiana U S DiedDecember 10 2022 2022 12 10 aged 98 Scottsdale Arizona U S SpouseBetty L Gayden m 1949 wbr Children3Alma materSouthern University University of Colorado Boulder Harvard UniversityMilitary serviceAllegiance United StatesBranch serviceArmy Air CorpsYears of service1943 1946Biography editBolen competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in the 400 metres He finished fourth in the final behind Arthur Wint Herb McKenley and Mal Whitfield In 2012 Bolen told The Boulder Daily Camera that The Olympics is not something you train for You have to have talent world class talent You have to use that talent for the benefit of yourself and others 1 Bolen first discovered that he had that talent when he raced other children during an Easter egg hunt during his childhood and found that he was faster He later decided he wanted to use his foot speed to gain a college education 2 Bolen graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1950 and was the university s first Olympic athlete 3 Before serving for two years in the Army Air Force in WWII 4 he attended Southern University in New Orleans after his service he was recruited by CU Boulder track and field coach Frank Potts 2 Later Bolen s career took him to the US State Department In 1974 President Richard Nixon appointed him ambassador to Swaziland Lesotho and Botswana simultaneously while keeping residence in Gaborone In 1977 the German speaking Bolen was appointed by President Jimmy Carter 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 As an ambassador to East Germany Bolen helped to lay the groundwork for the destruction of the Berlin Wall On November 9 1989 the day the wall came down Bolen s daughter Cynthia was photographed handing a long stemmed rose to an East German border guard standing atop the wall 5 He also worked to help free Nelson Mandela from prison 2 Bolen died on December 10 2022 at the age of 98 6 Competition record editYear Competition Venue Position Event NotesRepresenting nbsp United States1948 Olympics London United Kingdom 4th 400 m 47 2References edit First CU Boulder Olympian David Bolen Games are not something you train for www dailycamera com 2012 07 26 Retrieved 2019 03 09 a b c Running Down a Dream Alumni Association 2013 03 01 Retrieved 2019 03 09 Bugros McLean Polly E Bugros Polly Elise 2018 09 28 Remembering Lucile a Virginia family s rise from slavery and a legacy forged a mile high Boulder Colorado ISBN 9781607328254 OCLC 1076877671 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link CS1 maint multiple names authors list link David Benjamin Bolen 1923 BlackPast BlackPast 2015 01 26 Retrieved 2019 03 09 Boulder diplomat s daughter remembers Berlin Wall www dailycamera com 2009 11 09 Retrieved 2019 03 09 Life Celebrated For Ambassador Dave Bolen Cu s First Olympian 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 2020 04 18 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 index php 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 somethingDiplomatic postsPreceded byCharles J Nelson United States Ambassador to Botswana1974 1976 Succeeded byDonald R NorlandPreceded byCharles J Nelson United States Ambassador to Lesotho1974 1976 Succeeded byDonald R NorlandPreceded byCharles J Nelson United States Ambassador to Swaziland1974 1976 Succeeded byDonald R Norland nbsp nbsp nbsp This biographical article about an American sprinter is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp nbsp This American diplomat related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dave Bolen amp oldid 1211316281, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
