Edward L. Romero (also Romæro, born January 2, 1934) is an American entrepreneur, activist and former diplomat. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

and

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...

between the years of 1998 and 2001 and has engaged in various environmental and social causes, winning recognition from organizations in both the U.S. and Spain.

Biography

Early years

Edward L. Romero was born on January 2, 1934 in

Alamosa, Colorado Alamosa is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule municipality and the county seat of Alamosa County, Colorado, Alamosa County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 9,806 at the 2020 United States Cens ...

after his family moved there from

Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...

.Fundación escalera del éxito: Sabios del toreo
. His mother was a precinct chairwoman in Southern Colorado for thirty-seven years and a delegate for Adlai Stevenson. A History of Political Strength: An Interview with Edward L. Romero
/ref> Some of his ancestors were Spanish settlers from Corral de Almaguer, a municipality of Toledo,

Castilla La Mancha Castile, Castille or Castilla may refer to: Places Spain *Castile (historical region), a vaguely defined historical region of Spain covering most of Castile and León, all of the Community of Madrid and most of Castilla–La Mancha *Kingdom of ...

,Crónica El Mundo. EDWARD ROMERO: "Las mujeres mandan mucho, nos controlan"
(In spanish: Chronicle El Mundo. EDWARD ROMERO: "Women control us"). Sunday, February 25, 2001 - Number 280. Retrieved July 30, 2012, to 1:35pm. and settled in

New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe, New Mexico, Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque, New Mexico, Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Albuquerque metropolitan area, Tiguex , Offi ...

in 1598.Silver horizons: Edward L. Romero
Retrieved in August 29, 2012 at 18:12 pm. His grandfather was a

Fraternity brother A fraternity (from Latin ''frater'': "brother"; whence, " brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club or fraternal order traditionally of men associated together for various religious or secular aims. Fraternity in ...

of New Mexico. His first language was Spanish, but he currently speaks both English and Spanish fluently. In his youth, he fought in the

Korean War {{Infobox military conflict , conflict = Korean War , partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict , image = Korean War Montage 2.png , image_size = 300px , caption = Clockwise from top:{ ...

, then studied at Los Angeles State College and

Citrus College Citrus College is a public community college in Glendora, California. The Citrus Community College District, which supports the institution, includes the communities of Azusa, Claremont, Duarte, Glendora and Monrovia. Founded in 1915 by educa ...

. He moved to New Mexico after he graduated. During the

Vietnam war The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

, he was particularly critical of the war and helped form an activist group called "Veterans Against Vietnam."

Political career

After the Vietnam war, he became a county chairman of Democratic Party. He has been a member of the

Advisory Committee An advisory board is a body that provides non-binding strategic advice to the management of a corporation, organization, or foundation. The informal nature of an advisory board gives greater flexibility in structure and management compared to t ...

for the U.S. Trade Representative's Services Policy, leading a number of U.S. delegations to Mexico. During the Carter administration he served as a member of the Federal Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and of the U.S. Delegations on the

Helsinki Accords The Helsinki Final Act, also known as Helsinki Accords or Helsinki Declaration was the document signed at the closing meeting of the third phase of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) held in Helsinki, Finland, betwee ...

.Ehdoc
. Retrieved August 23, 2012, to 1:35pm

Ambassador of Andorra and Spain

On April 2, 1998, President

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and again ...

announced he would like to nominate Edward L. Romero as the next U.S. Ambassador of Spain, and on June 1, Clinton named him to also serve concurrently as Ambassador to Andorra. He was confirmed by the Senate on June 23. On June 28, Ambassador Romero arrived in Madrid, Spain and on June 30, he presented his credentials to King Juan Carlos. In 2001 he was replaced by George Argyros as ambassador of Spain.

Hispanic Community Leader

He founded the Hispanic Culture Foundation and the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and has served on the President's Hispanic Advisory Committee.. He was a founding member of the

Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ...

Albuquerque Hispano and the Board of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. He was a member of the Hispanic Cultural Foundation and the

National Hispanic Cultural Center The National Hispanic Cultural Center is an institution in Albuquerque, New Mexico dedicated to Hispanic culture, arts and humanities. The campus spans 20 acres and is located along the Rio Grande in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Avenida César Cháv ...

in New Mexico. In 1989, the Hispanic Chamber of the Commerce named him the National Hispanic Businessman of the Year.

Entrepreneur

He is one of the founders of "Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC." He was the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Advanced Sciences, Inc., an international environmental engineering and waste management corporation. He continued as the president and director after the company merged with Commodore Applied Technologies, Inc.

Recognitions

* In September 1989, the U.S.

Small Business Administration The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) is an independent agency of the United States government that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and stre ...

named him Region Hispanic Businessman of the Year. * In 1989, the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce named him National Hispanic Businessman of the Year. * In 1991, he was also named in the publication "Hispanic Heroes – Portraits of New Mexicans Who Have Made a Difference," edited by Rose Diaz and Jan Dodson Barnhart * On March 21, 2001, the King

Juan Carlos I of Spain Juan Carlos I (;, * ca, Joan Carles I, * gl, Xoán Carlos I, Juan Carlos Alfonso Víctor María de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias, born 5 January 1938) is a member of the Spanish royal family who reigned as King of Spain from 22 Novem ...

awarded him the Grand Cross of the Order of

Isabel I of Castile Isabella I ( es, Isabel I; 22 April 1451 – 26 November 1504), also called Isabella the Catholic (Spanish: ''la Católica''), was Queen of Castile from 1474 until her death in 1504, as well as Queen consort of Aragon from 1479 until 1504 b ...

. * He has received awards and acknowledgments from various U.S. and Spanish organizations including the

National Kidney Foundation The National Kidney Foundation, Inc. (NKF) is a voluntary health organization in the United States, headquartered in New York City, with over 30 local offices across the country. Its mission is to prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, impr ...

, New Mexico Anti-Defamation League, National Hispanic Scholarship Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Society. * Honorary Brother of the International Brotherhood of Researchers in Toledo, Spain * Noble Honorary Brother of the Illustrious and Most Ancient Brotherhood of Mozarabic Knights in Toledo, Spain * Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in Madrid, Spain

Personal life

Romero married Cayetana Garcia and they have four children and eight grandchildren. She is a descendant of the first Spanish settlers of New Mexico. He is a big fan of

bullfighting Bullfighting is a physical contest that involves a bullfighter attempting to subdue, immobilize, or kill a bull, usually according to a set of rules, guidelines, or cultural expectations. There are several variations, including some forms w ...

and toreo and engages in various civic and charitable activities

References

External links

Ambassador Romero
{{DEFAULTSORT:Romero, Edward L. 1934 births Living people Neomexicanos American people of Spanish descent Ambassadors of the United States to Spain Ambassadors of the United States to Andorra Hispanic and Latino American diplomats Knights of the Holy Sepulchre 20th-century American diplomats 21st-century American diplomats