Craig Roberts Stapleton
Encyclopedia
Craig Roberts Stapleton is a former United States ambassador
to France
and the Czech Republic
.
. His grandfather, Benjamin F. Stapleton
, was a politician who served five terms as mayor of Denver. He received his secondary school education at Phillips Exeter Academy
and a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Harvard University
. He received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School
. His wife, Dorothy Walker Stapleton, is a first cousin
of former U.S. president
George H.W. Bush.
He served as President of Marsh and McLennan Real Estate Advisors of New York
from 1982 until 2001. From 1989 to 1998 Stapleton co-owned the Texas Rangers
baseball
team with George W. Bush
. He has served on the board of directors
for several companies including Allegheny Properties, Metro PCS, TB Woods and Winston Partners. In July 2009, he became a co-owner of the St. Louis Cardinals
.
During the administration of George H.W. Bush, Stapleton sat on the Board of the Peace Corps
. He served as ambassador to the Czech Republic
from August 2001 to December 2003. In 2004, he was the Connecticut
State Chairman for the Bush
-Cheney
reelection campaign. In June 2005 he was appointed ambassador to France and served until July 2009.
In 2007 he recommended to the Bush administration that they wage a trade war on European crops, due to European resistance to genetically modified foods such as MON 810
, thus denying a key US export.
Stapleton made an appearance on the Food Network
show, The Next Iron Chef
in 2007. The final three chefs remaining in the competition each prepared a three-course American-themed dinner for the ambassador and 20 guests. The competition took place in the ambassador's official residence.
Stapleton and his wife live in Greenwich, Connecticut
and have two adult children; his son Walker
was elected Colorado State Treasurer
in 2010
.
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...
to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
Biography
Stapleton was born in Kansas City, MissouriKansas 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...
. His grandfather, Benjamin F. Stapleton
Benjamin F. Stapleton
Benjamin Franklin Stapleton was the Mayor of Denver, Colorado for two periods , the first from 1923–1931 and the second from 1935–1947. He also served as the Democratic Colorado State Auditor from 1933–35.-Early years:He was born November 12, 1869, in Paintsville, Kentucky...
, was a politician who served five terms as mayor of Denver. He received his secondary school education at Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
and a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. His wife, Dorothy Walker Stapleton, is a first cousin
Cousin chart
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
of former U.S. president
President 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....
George H.W. Bush.
He served as President of Marsh and McLennan Real Estate Advisors of New York
Marsh & McLennan Companies
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. is a US-based global professional services and insurance brokerage firm. In 2007, it had over 57,000 employees and annual revenues of $10.49 billion. Marsh & McLennan Companies was ranked the 221st largest corporation in the United States by the 2009 Fortune 500...
from 1982 until 2001. From 1989 to 1998 Stapleton co-owned the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team with George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. He has served on the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
for several companies including Allegheny Properties, Metro PCS, TB Woods and Winston Partners. In July 2009, he became a co-owner of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
During the administration of George H.W. Bush, Stapleton sat on the Board of the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
. He served as ambassador to the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
from August 2001 to December 2003. In 2004, he was the Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
State Chairman for the Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
-Cheney
Dick Cheney
Richard Bruce "Dick" Cheney served as the 46th Vice President of the United States , under George W. Bush....
reelection campaign. In June 2005 he was appointed ambassador to France and served until July 2009.
In 2007 he recommended to the Bush administration that they wage a trade war on European crops, due to European resistance to genetically modified foods such as MON 810
MON 810
MON 810 is a variety of genetically modified maize developed by Monsanto Company and marketed with the trade name YieldGard. It contains a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis that expresses a toxin poisonous to some pest insects, such as the European Corn Borer...
, thus denying a key US export.
Stapleton made an appearance on the Food Network
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
show, The Next Iron Chef
The Next Iron Chef
The Next Iron Chef, is a limited-run series on the Food Network now in its fourth season. Each season is a stand-alone competition to select a chef to be designated an Iron Chef, who will appear on the Food Network program Iron Chef America....
in 2007. The final three chefs remaining in the competition each prepared a three-course American-themed dinner for the ambassador and 20 guests. The competition took place in the ambassador's official residence.
Stapleton and his wife live in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
and have two adult children; his son Walker
Walker Stapleton
Walker Stapleton is Colorado's State Treasurer. He was elected on November 2, 2010 after defeating incumbent Cary Kennedy with 50.73% of the vote....
was elected Colorado State Treasurer
Colorado State Treasurer
The Treasurer of the State of Colorado is one of the five elected officials of the U.S. state of Colorado. The State Treasurer is responsible for managing the Colorado State Treasury and the Colorado Department of the Treasury...
in 2010
Colorado elections, 2010
Elections will be held in Colorado on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. Primary elections will be held on August 10, 2010.- United States Senate :...
.