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David Benjamin Bolen (December 23, 1923 – December 10, 2022) was an American track and field athlete, Olympian, diplomat and businessman.

Biography

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]

Competition record

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  United States
1948 Olympics London, United Kingdom 4th 400 m 47.2

References

  1. ^ "First CU-Boulder Olympian David Bolen: Games are 'not something you train for'". www.dailycamera.com. 2012-07-26. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  2. ^ a b c "Running Down a Dream". Alumni Association. 2013-03-01. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  3. ^ 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ "David Benjamin Bolen (1923- ) • BlackPast". BlackPast. 2015-01-26. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  5. ^ "Boulder diplomat's daughter remembers Berlin Wall". www.dailycamera.com. 2009-11-09. Retrieved 2019-03-09.
  6. ^ Life Celebrated For Ambassador Dave Bolen, Cu’s First Olympian

July 8, 1977

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Botswana
1974–1976 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Lesotho
1974–1976 		Succeeded by
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Swaziland
1974–1976 		Succeeded by


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