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Joseph Rudolph Grimes

Liberian politician

Joseph Rudolph Grimes (October 31, 1923 – September 7, 2007) was a Liberian statesman. A trained lawyer, he served as Secretary of State from 1960 to 1972.

Early life[edit]

Grimes was born on October 31, 1923, to Louis Arthur Grimes and Victoria Grimes.^[1] He was educated at the College of West Africa (now Methodist University of Liberia) before graduating from Liberia College (now University of Liberia) with a Bachelor of Arts degree.^[1] Grimes then attended Harvard Law School in the United States where he earned a law degree, followed by a master's degree from Columbia UniversityinNew York City in international affairs.^[1]

Career[edit]

Following his education in America, he returned to Liberia where he founded the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law at the now University of Liberia.^[1] Named after his father, the younger Grimes served as the first dean starting in 1951.^[1]

In 1958, he was appointed as the Acting Secretary of State of Liberia.^[1] In 1960, he was appointed Secretary of State by President William Tubman. Serving until 1971, he is the longest serving foreign minister in Liberian history.^[1] He was preceded by Momolu Dukuly and was succeeded by Rocheforte Lafayette Weeks.

Later years[edit]

He was elected in 1975 to membership in the Commission of the Churches on International Affairs of the World Council of Churches (CCIA/WCC) and served as its Vice-Moderator until 1983. He was engaged as its Special advisor on African Affairs and representative to the United Nations in New York in 1993–1994.^[2]

Joseph Rudolph Grimes died on September 7, 2007,^[3] at his home in Guttenberg, New Jersey, at the age of 83.^[1]

References[edit]

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