The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2004

Foreign Service: the first in 1966 in Somalia, and another in 1968 during the Pakistan-India War in Dacca (now Dhaka). Mr. Swedenburg’s Washington assignments included service as per- sonnel division chief, Foreign Service Institute special assistant, and a detail as executive director of the Federal Energy Office of the White House in 1973. He served as chargé d’affaires during stints in Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Equatorial Guinea. In 1980 Mr. Swedenburg retired from the Foreign Service, but was retained under con- tract by the Department of State until 1985, during which time he served primarily as a management trou- bleshooter in Africa. He then returned to his beloved Valley View Farm, a cattle farm, com- mercial vineyard and winery in Middleburg, where he actively assist- ed in its operation and management. Mr. Swedenburg was a strong advo- cate of the growth and development of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s wine industry. He was a member of the Virginia Wineries Association, Vinifera Wine Growers Association, the Republican Party and the NRA. Mr. Swedenburg leaves his wife of 50 years, Juanita, his son Marcum, and granddaughter Jeana, all of Middleburg. An older sister, LaVera Swedenburg Larson, resides in Modesto, Calif. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Middleburg Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 122, Middle- burg VA 20118. John Carl West , 81, a former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and gov- ernor of South Carolina, died March 21 at his home in Hilton Head, S.C, after a yearlong battle with cancer. A native South Carolinian, Amb- assador West received his bachelor’s degree from The Citadel in 1942, and his law degree magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina in 1948. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army and was hon- orably discharged with the rank of major. In 1954 West was elected to the state Senate and, after 12 years of service there, successfully ran for lieu- tenant governor in 1966. In 1970 he was elected governor for a four-year term. A Democrat, he helped calm racial tensions in South Carolina in the years after highway patrolmen opened fire on a civil rights protest at the historically black South Carolina State University, killing three students and wounding 20. West appointed blacks to prominent positions and established a commission to ease racial tensions. On the commission’s 25th anniversary in 1997, West said it had sent a message that racial divi- sions had been put aside. “I’d like to think this was a major turning point in race relations, because it set up com- munications where [a problem] could be addressed before it reached a crisis point,” West said. His efforts earned him the enmity of the Ku Klux Klan, but his wife Lois’ reputation as a crack pistol shot and her warning to the Klansmen saw him through this tough period. As governor, West also saw to the creation of the state’s second medical school at the University of South Carolina and encouraged foreign investment, inducing several Euro- pean automobile manufacturers to establish factories in the state. He considered his most important contri- bution to the people of South Carolina to be his role in establishing numerous technical/vocational col- leges. These institutions provided South Carolinians significant oppor- tunity for professional and economic advancement and were a major factor attracting industry to the state. President Carter named West U.S. envoy to Saudi Arabia in 1977. Amb. West worked to enlist Saudi support for the Middle East peace process, and was highly regarded by his Foreign Service staff. As Ambassador Joseph Saloom, eco- nomic officer in Saudi Arabia from 1978 to 1980, recalls: “Amb. West ensured U.S. access to the vital Saudi petroleum essential to world economic growth and prosperity. Within the embassy, Amb. West was a model of loyalty and support to his staff at this isolated and difficult post. He was a mentor and model to all, and was instrumental in groom- ing eight of his subordinates to even- tually become chiefs of their own diplomatic missions. His emphasis on kindness and devotion to others was multiplied by his influence on these leaders of the Service, who were inspired by what they learned from West's example.” AFSA President John Limbert, political officer at Embassy Jeddah in 1978 and 1979, recalls: “Amb. West’s friendship and support extended to all in the embassy, without regard to rank or specialty. When not occupied with official diplomatic functions (which he did not enjoy very much), he would invite communicators, secre- taries, junior officers and their spous- es to his home to try out a new recipe or a new cook he and Lois were test- ing. For decades after he left Saudi Arabia, he stayed in contact with and supported the careers of those who had served with him.” In retirement, Amb. West encour- aged the growth of Hilton Head as a resort and retirement community. He is survived by his wife, Lois, and their three children, Douglas, Shelton and John Jr., and one grand- son. 82 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 4 I N M E M O R Y