Johnny Young (diplomat) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnny Young
|
|
|---|---|
US State Department photo of Young (2002)
|
|
| United States Ambassador to Slovenia | |
| In office October 24, 2001 – September 17, 2004 |
|
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Nancy Halliday Ely-Raphel |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Bolling Robertson |
| United States Ambassador to Bahrain | |
| In office December 11, 1997 – September 29, 2001 |
|
| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | David M. Ransom |
| Succeeded by | Ronald E. Neumann |
| United States Ambassador to Togo | |
| In office October 7, 1994 – November 21, 1997 |
|
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Harmon Elwood Kirby |
| Succeeded by | Brenda Schoonover |
| United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone | |
| In office November 29, 1989 – July 23, 1992 |
|
| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Cynthia Shepard Perry |
| Succeeded by | Lauralee M. Peters |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 6, 1940 Savannah, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | July 24, 2021 (aged 81) Kensington, Maryland, U.S. |
| Spouse | Angelena Clark |
| Education | BS, Temple University (1966) |
| Awards |
|
Johnny Young (February 6, 1940 – July 24, 2021) was an American diplomat. He worked for the United States Foreign Service for 37 years. During this time, he served as an Ambassador in many countries. His work took him to North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Johnny Young was born on February 6, 1940, in Savannah, Georgia. His mother passed away when he was very young. He was then raised by his aunt. At age seven, Young moved to Philadelphia. He grew up in a difficult situation. Even though he didn't get great scores on tests, he finished high school in 1957.
In the 1960s, Young traveled to Beirut as a delegate for the Philadelphia YMCA. This international trip inspired him greatly. He decided he wanted to work overseas. In 1966, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Temple University. He married Angelena Clark around 1967. They later had two children.
A Career in Diplomacy
Before joining the Foreign Service, Young worked as an accountant for the city of Philadelphia.
Joining the Foreign Service
In 1967, Johnny Young joined the United States Foreign Service. This is a group of people who represent the U.S. government in other countries. His first job was in Antananarivo, Madagascar, where he managed budgets.
After Madagascar, he worked in Conakry, Guinea, and then in Nairobi, Kenya. From Kenya, he moved to Doha, Qatar. There, he served as a chargé d'affaires, which means he was in charge of the embassy when the ambassador was away.
He also had assignments in Bridgetown, Barbados. In 1979, Young returned to the U.S. to work in Washington, D.C.. Later, he served in Amman, Jordan, and The Hague, Netherlands.
Serving as an Ambassador
From 1989 to 2004, Johnny Young served as an Ambassador in four different countries:
- Sierra Leone (1989–1992): He helped with the evacuation of U.S. citizens during a difficult time.
- Togo (1994–1997)
- Bahrain (1997–2001)
- Slovenia (2001–2004): This was his final ambassador role before he retired.
During his time in the Foreign Service, Young received several awards. These included the Superior Honor Award and the Meritorious Honor Award. In 2004, he was named a Senior Foreign Service Career Ambassador. This is a very high honor for a diplomat. He was one of the few African Americans of his generation to receive this recognition.
Life After Retirement
After retiring from government service in 2004, Johnny Young continued to be active. He worked as a consultant and gave lectures. From 2007, he was the executive director of the Migration and Refugee Services Division for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In 2013, Young wrote a book about his life called From The Projects to the Palace: A Diplomat's Unlikely Journey from the Bottom to the Top. The book tells his story from his childhood to his successful career as a diplomat.
Johnny Young was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. He passed away at his home in Kensington, Maryland, on July 24, 2021, at the age of 81. He was survived by his wife, Angelena, and their two children.
Images for kids
-
US State Department photo of Young (2002)
