Former MSU President Clifton R. Wharton Jr. has something new to be proud of. His father, U.S. Ambassador Clifton R. Wharton Sr., is now featured on a stamp from the U.S. Postal Service.
In May, the Postal Service honored six diplomats at the Washington 2006 World Philatelic Exhibition in Washington, D.C., by unveiling the "Distinguished American Diplomats" stamp. Those commemorated include Hiram Bingham IV, Charles E. Bohlen, Philip C. Habib, Robert D. Murphy and Frances E. Willis.
"All of these diplomats served in different parts of the world, yet they shared a common passion for service — a passion that sometimes put them in harm's way. They took risks to advance humanitarianism," said James C. Miller III, chairman of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors in a press release. "They took risks to advance ideas. They took risks to advance peace. And for that, all of us should be thankful."
Wharton Sr. attended The English High School in Boston and skipped his undergraduate program to go straight into law school at Boston University, Wharton Jr. said at the exhibition.
"My father had a very high personal set of standards for achievement and a striving for excellence," he said.
Wharton Sr. was the first black Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State and had many different postings around the world, including Liberia, Spain and Madagascar.
"I think it's a very outstanding honor because he was one of the six who was selected as the distinguished diplomat in history," Wharton Jr. said.
Wharton Sr. felt it was important that he made it in his career based on his intellectual merit, Wharton Jr. said.
At the 2006 World Philatelic Exhibition, Wharton Jr. said although he was offered the position of career ambassador administer for Romania in 1985, Wharton Sr. made it a point to take his position only based on merit by asking his superiors why he received it.
"We've done a lot of research on various individuals," said David Failor, executive director of Stamp Services at the Postal Service. "There are hundreds of thousands of diplomats with stories behind them, and we were looking for some pioneers."
Failor said all of the diplomats worked for the U.S. Department of State, and Wharton Sr. stood out from the other submissions because he was an African American who made it to the rank of ambassador.
Wharton Jr. also said at the exhibition that it's fitting for his father to be honored on the stamp alongside the other five diplomats.
"My father truly loved this country, and despite everything, he dedicated his life to serving the foreign policy of the United States with intelligence, professionalism and a very strong total commitment," Wharton Jr. said.
