| From
a cotton farm in Louisiana to the Republic of South Africa, Edward J.
Perkins has had the world at his fingertips.
Perkins was raised on a farm by his grandparents,
who constantly stressed the importance of education. While in high school,
he cultivated an interest in the U.S. Department’s foreign service.
After joining the U.S. Marine Corps, his dreams of seeing the world began
to come true. He served at the end of the Korean War and then was sent
to Hawaii, where he spent most of his time reading and studying in the
library.
Between 1958 and 1985, Perkins was appointed
to many positions, including chief of personnel at the Army and Air Force
Exchange in Taiwan; deputy assistant director for management with the
U.S. Operations Mission to Thailand; and U.S. ambassador to Liberia.
In 1986, Perkins made history when he was
appointed the first black American ambassador to South Africa.
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