Charles H. Price II
Encyclopedia
Charles H. Price II is a prominent American businessman and former Ambassador of the United States
.
, Missouri
, who owned a local candy
manufacturing firm, the Price Candy Company. He attended Wentworth Military Academy
in Lexington, Missouri
, and then the Pembroke-Country Day School
in Kansas City, where he graduated in 1948. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts
degree from the University of Missouri
in 1953. After college, between 1953 and 1955, he served in the United States Air Force
.
After discharge from the Air Force, Price returned to Kansas City to begin a prominent career in the local banking industry. He served as Chairman and President of American Bancorporation, Inc., Chairman and CEO of the American Bank and Trust Company, and Chairman and President of Linwood Securities Company. He also ran his family's candy company, serving as Chairman and CEO from 1969 - 1981.
Ronald Reagan
appointed Price to be United States Ambassador to Belgium
. He was quickly and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate
. In 1983, President Reagan recalled Price from his post in Belgium
and appointed him United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
. The Senate again confirmed him unanimously, and he held the post until the end of the Reagan Administration
in 1989. As Ambassador to the United Kingdom
, he was instrumental in handling the aftermath of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103
in 1988 and was the first U.S. government official on the scene in Lockerbie, Scotland, on the night of the bombing. He gave the first indication that it was the worst terrorist attack against the U.S., when he told reporters that 70% of those on board were Americans.
Upon returning from his ambassadorial post in April 1989, Price was appointed Chairman of the Board of Ameribanc, Inc.
, and then became President and CEO in 1990. Ameribanc merged with Mercantile Bancorporation in May 1992, and Price became Chairman of the Board of Mercantile Bank of Kansas City and Mercantile Bank of Kansas. He held this position until retiring in 1996.
Price has also served as a Director of British Airways
(1989-1996), Hanson plc
(1989-1995), US Industries, Inc. (1995-2004), The New York Times Company
(1989-2002), Texaco
(1989-2001), and Sprint (1989-1995). In Kansas City, he has served on numerous philanthropic boards. He also has received numerous awards and honorary degrees for his public service.
Today, Price is retired and resides in Indian Wells, California
. He is married to Carol Swanson Price.
Ambassadors from the United States
This is a list of ambassadors of the United States to individual nations of the world, to international organizations, to past nations, and ambassadors-at-large.Ambassadors are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
.
Early life
Price was born to a prominent family in Kansas CityKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, who owned a local candy
Candy
Candy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
manufacturing firm, the Price Candy Company. He attended Wentworth Military Academy
Wentworth Military Academy
Wentworth Military Academy and College is a private four-year college preparatory high school and military junior college. It is located in Lexington, Missouri, part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. Wentworth is the oldest military academy west of the Mississippi River, and the...
in Lexington, Missouri
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, and then the Pembroke-Country Day School
The Pembroke Hill School
The Pembroke Hill School is a nonsectarian, coeducational, private preparatory school for about 1,200 students in preschool through 12th grade, separated into four sections: preschool-2nd grade , 3rd-5th grade , 6th-8th grade , and 9th-12th grade...
in Kansas City, where he graduated in 1948. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
in 1953. After college, between 1953 and 1955, he served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
After discharge from the Air Force, Price returned to Kansas City to begin a prominent career in the local banking industry. He served as Chairman and President of American Bancorporation, Inc., Chairman and CEO of the American Bank and Trust Company, and Chairman and President of Linwood Securities Company. He also ran his family's candy company, serving as Chairman and CEO from 1969 - 1981.
Public life
In the spring of 1981, PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
appointed Price to be United States Ambassador to Belgium
United States Ambassador to Belgium
In 1832, shortly after the creation of the Kingdom of Belgium, the United States established diplomatic relations. Since that time, a long line of distinguished envoys have represented American interests in Belgium. These diplomats included men and women whose career paths would lead them to...
. He was quickly and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. In 1983, President Reagan recalled Price from his post in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and appointed him United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
The office of United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom was traditionally, and still is very much so today due to the Special Relationship, the most prestigious position in the United States Foreign Service...
. The Senate again confirmed him unanimously, and he held the post until the end of the Reagan Administration
Reagan Administration
The United States presidency of Ronald Reagan, also known as the Reagan administration, was a Republican administration headed by Ronald Reagan from January 20, 1981, to January 20, 1989....
in 1989. As Ambassador to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, he was instrumental in handling the aftermath of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103
Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways' third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from London Heathrow Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport...
in 1988 and was the first U.S. government official on the scene in Lockerbie, Scotland, on the night of the bombing. He gave the first indication that it was the worst terrorist attack against the U.S., when he told reporters that 70% of those on board were Americans.
Upon returning from his ambassadorial post in April 1989, Price was appointed Chairman of the Board of Ameribanc, Inc.
U.S. Bancorp
U.S. Bancorp is a diversified financial services holding company, headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the fifth largest commercial bank in the United States based on $330 billion in assets. U.S. Bank ranks as the sixth largest bank in the U.S. based on...
, and then became President and CEO in 1990. Ameribanc merged with Mercantile Bancorporation in May 1992, and Price became Chairman of the Board of Mercantile Bank of Kansas City and Mercantile Bank of Kansas. He held this position until retiring in 1996.
Price has also served as a Director of British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
(1989-1996), Hanson plc
Hanson plc
Hanson plc is a British based international building materials company, headquartered in Maidenhead. Traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index for many years, the company was acquired by a division of German rival Heidelberg Cement in August 2007.-History:Hanson...
(1989-1995), US Industries, Inc. (1995-2004), The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company
The New York Times Company is an American media company best known as the publisher of its namesake, The New York Times. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. has served as Chairman of the Board since 1997. It is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, New York City....
(1989-2002), Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
(1989-2001), and Sprint (1989-1995). In Kansas City, he has served on numerous philanthropic boards. He also has received numerous awards and honorary degrees for his public service.
Today, Price is retired and resides in Indian Wells, California
Indian Wells, California
Indian Wells is a city in Riverside County, California, in the Coachella Valley , in between Palm Desert and La Quinta. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 4,958....
. He is married to Carol Swanson Price.