Who was Colin Powell? The legacy of first Black secretary of state.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell died Monday morning of issues from COVID-19, in response to an announcement from his household shared on his Fb web page.
The four-star basic was the primary Black Secretary of State in U.S. historical past, serving from 2001 to 2005 beneath former President George W. Bush.
Powell, 84, was born April 5, 1937, within the New York Metropolis neighborhood of Harlem. Throughout his lengthy stint within the navy, he served two excursions in Vietnam and rose within the ranks because the 12th chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, the highest-ranking navy appointment within the Protection Division.
“We now have misplaced a exceptional and loving husband, father, grandfather and an excellent American,” Powell’s household mentioned in its assertion.
From the Bronx to the Joint Chiefs
Powell was the son of two immigrants from Jamaica, and he was raised within the South Bronx, in response to the Office of the Historian.
After graduating from Metropolis Faculty of New York, he joined the U.S. military in 1958 the place he served for 35 years till his retirement in 1993. He rose the ranks and was promoted to the rank of basic in 1989 and later Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees by former President George H.W. Bush.
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As chairman, he oversaw planning for the invasion of Panama and Operation Desert Storm in 1991, in response to the U.S. Division of State web site.
In 2000, Powell was nominated by then-President George W. Bush because the Secretary of State, the primary Black individual to carry the place.
Did Colin Powell have household?
Powell married Alma Powell, previously Johnson, in 1962 and the couple share a son named Michael Powell, in response to Historical past Makers.
He additionally has two daughters Linda Powell and Anne Marie Powell, who each have careers within the movie business.
Alma Powell is a longtime advocate for youth and kids’s rights and served because the Chair of the Board of Administrators for America’s Promise Alliance — a nationwide motion to enhance the lives of younger folks, in response to America’s Promise Alliance’s website.
Michael Powell adopted within the footsteps of his father and joined the navy after graduating from the Faculty of William and Mary. After serving within the Military, Michael was appointed by former President George W. Bush because the chairman of the Federal Communications Fee in 2001.
What are a few of Colin Powell’s most well-known quotes?
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“Management is fixing issues. The day troopers cease bringing you their issues is the day you’ve stopped main them.”
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“If you’re going to obtain excellence in large issues, you develop the behavior in little issues.”
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“A dream doesn’t turn into actuality by magic; it takes sweat, dedication, and arduous work.”
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“By no means get so near your place that when the place goes, your ego goes with it.”
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“There isn’t any finish to the nice you are able to do in case you don’t care who will get the credit score.”
Observe reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Electronic mail: agilbert@usatoday.com.