Horace Gates Torbert Jr. served in
diplomatic posts across
Europe and in Somalia from the 1940s
to the 1970s. (Family Photo)
diplomatic posts across
Europe and in Somalia from the 1940s
to the 1970s. (Family Photo)
| Horace Gates Torbert |
Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Horace Gates Torbert Jr., who served as ambassador to Somalia and Bulgaria and was acting
assistant secretary of state for congressional relations during the Vietnam War, died of cancer
March 24 at the Collington Episcopal Life Care Community in Mitchellville. He was 96.
Ambassador Torbert joined the Foreign Service in 1947 and served as economic officer in
Madrid until 1950. He was political officer in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria, from 1950 to 1955.
assistant secretary of state for congressional relations during the Vietnam War, died of cancer
March 24 at the Collington Episcopal Life Care Community in Mitchellville. He was 96.
Ambassador Torbert joined the Foreign Service in 1947 and served as economic officer in
Madrid until 1950. He was political officer in Vienna and Salzburg, Austria, from 1950 to 1955.
During that time, he was a close associate of the U.S. ambassador to Austria, Lewellyn E.
Thompson Jr., in negotiating the Austrian State Treaty of 1955, which reestablished Austria as a
sovereign state.
Thompson Jr., in negotiating the Austrian State Treaty of 1955, which reestablished Austria as a
sovereign state.
Ambassador Torbert, who was known as Tully, was born in Washington and graduated at 16 from Western High School. He also
graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. He received a degree from Yale University in 1932 and an MBA from Harvard
Business School in 1934.
graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. He received a degree from Yale University in 1932 and an MBA from Harvard
Business School in 1934.
Ambassador Torbert worked as a production manager for Hollingsworth & Whitney Paper in Boston and Mobile, Ala., during the 1930s
and served stateside in the Army Ordnance Department during World War II. He rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded
the Legion of Merit.
and served stateside in the Army Ordnance Department during World War II. He rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded
the Legion of Merit.
After becoming a Foreign Service officer and serving in Spain and Austria, he spent a year at the National War College and then became
director of Western European affairs at the State Department.
director of Western European affairs at the State Department.
Beginning in1958, he served two years as the political counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Rome under Ambassador David Zellerbach,
then two years as charg¿ d'affaires of the U.S. Legation in Budapest. He was ambassador to Somalia from 1963 to 1965.
then two years as charg¿ d'affaires of the U.S. Legation in Budapest. He was ambassador to Somalia from 1963 to 1965.
In 1965, Ambassador Torbert was named deputy assistant secretary of state for congressional relations and became acting assistant
secretary when Douglas MacArthur II left Washington to become U.S. ambassador to NATO.
secretary when Douglas MacArthur II left Washington to become U.S. ambassador to NATO.
From 1969 to 1973, Ambassador Torbert served as ambassador to Bulgaria, the post from which he retired.
After his retirement, Ambassador Torbert engaged in many volunteer activities, including serving as president of Diplomatic and Consular
Officers, Retired. The group's headquarters was moved and renovated during his stewardship, and its library was named in his honor.
Officers, Retired. The group's headquarters was moved and renovated during his stewardship, and its library was named in his honor.
His wife of 57 years, Anne Holloway Torbert, died in 1999.
Survivors include his wife, Emily Orr Torbert of Mitchellville, whom he married in 2001; two sons from his first marriage, William R. Torbert
of Newton, Mass., and James R. Torbert of Whitefield, Maine; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
of Newton, Mass., and James R. Torbert of Whitefield, Maine; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.