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Sam P. Gilstrap

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Samuel P. Gilstrap
United States Ambassador to Malawi
In office
July 8, 1964 – October 6, 1965
Preceded byNone
Succeeded byMarshall P. Jones
Personal details
Born
Samuel Patrick Gilstrap

(1907-05-01)May 1, 1907
Chandler, Oklahoma, U.S.
DiedApril 25, 1989(1989-04-25) (aged 81)
Cocoa Beach, Florida, U.S.
SpouseMary Ethel
Children2
Alma materOklahoma State University
Cumberland University Law School (LLB)
Occupation
  • Lawyer
  • diplomat

Samuel Patrick Gilstrap (May 1, 1907 – April 25, 1989) was an American diplomat. He served in the United States Foreign Service from 1947 to 1965. He served as the first U.S. Ambassador to Malawi following Malawi's independence.

Early life

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Samuel Patrick Gilstrap was born on May 1, 1907, in Chandler, Oklahoma. He graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1930 and graduated from Cumberland University Law School with a Bachelor of Laws in 1931. He was admitted to the bar in Oklahoma in 1932.[1][2]

Career

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Gilstrap practiced law in Oklahoma City for four years. He was chief auditor for the Civilian Works Administration in Oklahoma City from 1934 to 1935. He then worked as assistant director for accounts for the Works Progress Administration in Washington, D.C.[1][2] From 1939 to 1942, he was administrator of the Office of Price Administration in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.[2] During World War II, from 1942 to 1944, he was executive officer of the United States Office of War Information in San Francisco. He then was director of the Office of Price Administration in Puerto Rico for three years.[2][3]

In 1947, Gilstrap joined the United States Foreign Service. He was an attache in Cairo for three years. He was deputy executive secretary to the U.S. High Commissioner in Frankfurt, West Germany in 1950. He was attache to the Philippines in 1951 and attache to Mexico City in 1953. He was counselor of embassy in Tehran from 1955 to 1956. In 1958, he was counselor of embassy to Seoul. He was deputy principal officer of the American Consulate General in Hong Kong from 1960 to 1961. He then served as counsel general and minister in Singapore.[1][2] In 1961, he was the Consul in Hong Kong and Macau.[4] He served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Malawi from July 1964 until October 6, 1965.[5] He was the first United States Ambassador to Malawi after independence.[6] In 1965, he returned to Washington, D.C., as deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs. He retired in May 1966.[1][2][3] In June 1966, he became deputy chancellor of the East-West Center in Honolulu, a school attached to the University of Hawai'i. He was in that role for five years. He served as acting head while Howard P. Jones was in Europe.[2][3]

Personal life

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Gilstrap married Mary Ethel of Cocoa Beach, Florida. They had two sons, Samuel Patrick and Ronald Edmond.[1][3] He moved to Coach Beach in 1985.[2][3]

Gilstrap died of a heart attack on April 25, 1989.[1] He was buried in Washington, D.C.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Foreign Service Figure Dies". The Oklahoman. April 30, 1989. Archived from the original on July 15, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Bailey, Mike (1989-04-29). "Gilstrap, Former Ambassador, Dies in Cocoa Beach". Florida Today. p. 3B. Retrieved 2024-11-18 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  3. ^ a b c d e "Gilstrap, Ex-E-W Center Official, Dies". Honolulu Star–Bulletin. 1989-04-29. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-11-17 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  4. ^ "U.S.-Hong Kong Diplomatic History". U.S. Consulate General Hong Kong & Macau. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Samuel Patrick Gilstrap (1907–1989)". Office of the Historian. United States Department of State. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Negro to Head U.S. Group At Malawl's Celebration". The New York Times. June 29, 1964. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
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