George Arthur Trail III (October 16, 1936 – May 13, 2023) was an American diplomat who served as a United States Ambassador to Malawi from 1988 to 1991.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

Trail was born on October 16th, 1936 in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to George Arthur Trail, Jr. (1911-1977) and Elizabeth Feldman Trail (1909-1978). His parents married in 1935. He had five siblings. In high school, he contributed to the school newspaper.[1][4]

He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1958 with an A.B. and then the University of Houston in 1965 with a B.S.[1][3]

Early career and military service

From 1963 to 1965, he was an assistant professor of naval science at Rice University in Houston, Texas. In 1965, he was a financial analyst for Ford Motor Company. During this time, he joined the United States Navy. He was in the Navy for more than six years.[1][3]

Career

From 1965 to 1966, he took language training at the Foreign Service Institute. From 1966 to 1967, He was a Consular officer in Munich, Germany. From 1967 to 1968, he was a trade and investment officer in Germany. From 1968 to 1970, he was a political officer in Freetown, Sierra Leone. From 1970 to 1972, he served in Washington as a Liberian desk officer. During this time, he served in the offices of Congressman Lee Hamilton and Senator Lee Metcalf. From 1973 to 1975, he served as a principal officer in Kaduna, Nigeria. From 1975 to 1978, he was a political-military officer in Bangkok, Thailand. In 1979 and 1980, he was the Deputy Director of the Office of West African Affairs in the Department of State. From 1980 to 1984, he was a consul general in Johannesburg, South Africa. From 1984 to 1987, he served as the deputy chief of mission in Nairobi, Kenya.[1][3]

He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to succeed Weston Adams as the United States Ambassador to Malawi. He presented his credentials on May 13, 1988 and his mission was terminated on May 2, 1991. He was succeeded by Michael T. F. Pistor.[1][2][3]

Following this, he served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Lagos, Nigeria. During his time in this role, he saw Nigeria switch their capital from Lagos to Abuja.[1]

Personal life, retirement and death

During Trail's time in the Navy, he married Mary Jo Weaver. They had four children together: Regina, Angela, George, and Amy. In the early 1980s, he married Sharon Manfred.[1]

Following his retirement, he moved to South Africa. Trail and three newspaper editors created an annual book called South Africa at a Glance.[1]

Trail liked golf and was a member of a local choir.[1]

Trail passed away in Pinehurst, North Carolina on May 13, 2023 at the age of 86. He had previously been diagnosed with cancer.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Obituary information for George Arthur Trail III". www.thomasfuneral.com. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  2. ^ a b "George Arthur Trail III - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Archived from the original on 2025-02-14. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Nomination of George Arthur Trail III To Be United States Ambassador to Malawi | The American Presidency Project". www.presidency.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  4. ^ "Elizabeth Aurelia Feldman Frank Trail (1909-1978): Grave Location in Chambersburg, PA | PeopleLegacy". peoplelegacy.com. Retrieved 2025-02-15.


This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.
Categories:

Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft:George_Arthur_Trail_III
No tags for this post.