Michael Retzer

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Michael Retzer bigraphy, stories - American diplomat

Michael Retzer : biography

1946 –

Michael Lynn Retzer is an American Republican politician who was United States Ambassador to Tanzania from 2005–2007.

Citations

Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Tanzania Category:People from Greenville, Mississippi Category:United States Air Force officers Category:Living people Category:1946 births

Service in Civic Organizations

In his hometown of Greenville, Mississippi, he has contributed to community growth by serving in several civic organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Foundation, and the South Delta Planning Council. He was a founding member of Delta Wildlife Foundation and the Mississippi Wildlife Foundation. He has also served as a trustee of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C..

Before Becoming Ambassador

Retzer served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. He developed a restaurant chain in 20 locations in Mississippi, which employs over 1,100 people. He has served on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Planters Bank of Mississippi.

Since 1978, Retzer has been elected multiple times as Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party. In 2004, he was elected Treasurer of the Republic National Convention in New York City. He was elected National Committeeman for Mississippi in 2001 and Treasurer of the National Republican Party in 2002.

Early life

Retzer was born in Greenville, Mississippi in 1946, to Karl and Betty Retzer, he has one brother, Bill Retzer. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from the University of Oregon’s Honors College in 1968. There, he followed the footsteps of his father into the United States Air Force where he became a captain.

Personal life

Retzer has one son, Michael Retzer Jr. He regularly supports his Republican party with political donations to multiple campaigns, both on a local and national level. He donated to the George W. Bush campaign and recently donated to campaign for Arkansas state senator John Boozman.

Retzer Resources, Inc.

Outside of his political career, Retzer is the head of Retzer Resources, Inc. He founded the company in 1973. The company is responsible for the operation of 20 restaurant franchises in the southern United States. One of his McDonald’s franchises in Pine Bluff, Arkansas features the only remaining single-arch sign in Arkansas. It was approved and accepted by the United States National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

US Ambassador to Tanzania

Retzer was named as Ambassador to Tanzania by President George W. Bush on June 28, 2005, and the Senate confirmed him on July 29, 2005. Retzer was sworn in by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as United States Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania on August 24, 2005, and presented his credentials to President Benjamin Mkapa in Dar es Salaam on September 1, 2005.

While in Tanzania, Retzer was an important part of the program to end corruption in its government. The agreement between the United States and Tanzania gave the country the ability to improve the way civil society monitors the government’s progress in getting rid of corruption. It also strengthened the rule of law so corruption cases could finally be tried in court, established a financial intelligence unit to help discover any financial crimes within the government and increase transparency across the board.

Retzer had active political career since 1978, he has been elected multiple times as Chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party. In 2004, he was elected Treasurer of the Republican National Convention in New York City. Additionally, he was elected Republican National Committeeman for Mississippi in 2001 and Treasurer of the National Republican Party in 2002 and served in that position until 2005.

Dispute with Peace Corps

On June 8, 2007 the White House announced that Retzer would be replaced as Ambassador to Tanzania by Mark Green, 47, a former Republican congressman and unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate in Wisconsin. On June 14, 2007, the Peace Corps announced its strong disagreement with the decision of Retzer, to withdraw the authorization for Peace Corps Country Director Christine Djondo to remain in Tanzania and the adverse effects of Retzer’s decision on the Peace Corps program in Tanzania including cutting the incoming group of volunteers by half to ensure adequate support. On June 27 Senator Chris Dodd put a hold on the nomination of Mark Green to replace Retzer as Ambassador citing Retzer’s action as inteference in the independence of the Peace Corps. Dodd asked that Retzer rescind his cable of no confidence of Djondo or that the State Department provide a written apology to her.Green Bay Press Gazette. "Green ambassadorship being held up." June 27, 2007. The link to the has expired. An archival link is available on . On June 28, the State Department provided a written letter of apology to Djondo and Senator Dodd released his hold on Green’s nomination allowing it to go forward.Appleton Post Crescent. "State Department apology ends hold on Mark Green’s nomination" by Ellyn Ferguson. June 27, 2007. The link to the has expired. An archival link is available on .