“You must always strive to be a gentleman and a scholar.” With these few words, a wise and caring teacher inspired one young black man to live an amazing life, a life that would take him from being just another one among many in 1920-30’s New York into one of the most accomplished diplomats in the U.S., a man who has worked to help others for over a century, and who is still actively working toward that goal today. Let me tell you about my 100-year-old friend, Ambassador “Ted” Britton, Jr.
I first met Ted during a 2008 Governor’s VIP tour of the State of Georgia, when I was a new Honorary Consul representing Liechtenstein and he was an Honorary Consul General representing Albania. We were chatting one evening and I was delighted to learn that we shared several scientific, history, and academic interests. In fact, he seemed to be knowledgeable about an almost infinite number of topics. Despite that, today he remains humble, has a kind smile, and has since proven to be a wonderful friend.
At about age eighteen, Ted joined the Marines and served on Guadalcanal in World War II. After the war, he began his Batchelor of Science studies in banking and finance at NYU, but that was interrupted by further Marine Corps service during the Korean Conflict, after which he became a life member of the Monfort Point Marines and remains to this day an active speaker about and promoter of his beloved Marine Corps. This outstanding dedication to the Marines was noted by President Obama in May of 2012, who presented Ted with the Congressional Gold Medal for his service to both the nation and the Marine Corps.
After Korea, Ted finished his degree studies and entered the banking and finance world, where he had a successful career with emphasis on socially oriented housing. He became friends with Reverend Martin Luther King, and by 1971 he was such a sought-after speaker that President Nixon recruited Ted for a leadership role at Housing and Urban Development. He again excelled at his job and that led to Ted becoming the U.S. delegate to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France, where he became President of their Paris based Group on Urban Affairs. From that President Ford nominated him to be Ambassador, Chief of Mission, to Barbados and the State of Grenada from 1974 to 1977. Then in 1981, President Reagan chose Ted to manage presidential agreements with the Soviet Union, the Peoples Republic of China, Canada, and other countries, for which he received the national Distinguished Service Award.
After having served the United States under three presidents, and after following that with extensive overseas work for OECD, Ted returned to the business world where, of course, he again excelled. Then in 2006, the Government of Albania appointed him to be the Honorary Consul General of Albania to the State of Georgia, a position he still very actively holds to this day.
It goes without saying that with a history like this, Ted has received numerous honors and awards. These include the afore mentioned Congressional Gold Medal, an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Kristal University in Albania, resolution honors from both Newark, New Jersey and Washington, DC, as well as the Mother Teresa Gold Medalion from the President of Albania, and the Order of the Palmetto from his home state of South Carolina. Even at 100 years old, Ted continues to travel and speak to represent Albania, as well as the U.S. Marine Corps, and the United States of America.
In today’s complex and increasingly fragmenting world and society, it is becoming increasingly rare to have the opportunity to know a true statesman, someone who embodies duty, honor, country, and someone who has led a life of service to humanity, but for me, Ambassador Britton is a shining example of that which we all should strive to become. In closing, let me thank that teacher who recognized greatness in one boy at an early age, and guided that boy to become not only a “Gentleman and a Scholar”, but also to become a great, good man.
