Mary M. Ourisman Explained

Mary Ourisman
Office:United States Ambassador to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
President:George W. Bush
Term Start:February 26, 2007
Term End:January 16, 2009
Predecessor:Mary Kramer
Successor:Brent Hardt (Chargé d'affaires)
Office1:United States Ambassador to Saint Lucia
President1:George W. Bush
Term Start1:February 20, 2007
Term End1:January 16, 2009
Predecessor1:Mary Kramer
Successor1:Brent Hardt (Chargé d'affaires)
Office2:United States Ambassador to Saint Kitts and Nevis
President2:George W. Bush
Term Start2:November 14, 2006
Term End2:January 16, 2009
Predecessor2:Mary Kramer
Successor2:Brent Hardt (Chargé d'affaires)
Office3:United States Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda
President3:George W. Bush
Term Start3:November 7, 2006
Term End3:January 16, 2009
Predecessor3:Mary Kramer
Successor3:Brent Hardt (Chargé d'affaires)
Office4:United States Ambassador to Barbados
President4:George W. Bush
Term Start4:November 7, 2006
Term End4:January 16, 2009
Predecessor4:Mary Kramer
Successor4:Brent Hardt (Chargé d'affaires)
Office5:United States Ambassador to Dominica
President5:George W. Bush
Term Start5:November 7, 2006
Term End5:January 16, 2009
Predecessor5:Mary Kramer
Successor5:Brent Hardt (Chargé d'affaires)
Office6:United States Ambassador to Grenada
Term Start6:November 7, 2006
Term End6:January 16, 2009
Predecessor6:Mary Kramer
Successor6:Brent Hardt (Chargé d'affaires)
Birth Name:Mary Martin
Birth Date:27 February 1946
Birth Place:Texas, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:Bubbe Johnson (Divorced)
Steve Stiles (Divorced)
Mandy Ourisman (1993–2017)
Pete Dawkins (2019–present)
Education:University of Texas, Austin (BS)
Academy of Art University
New York School of Interior Design

Mary Martin Ourisman (born February 27, 1946) is an American political consultant who served as U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, comprising the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.[1] Mary was married to "Bubba" Johnson, and Steve Stiles previously.

Biography

Ourisman was born to Dr. Herbert and Aleen Martin in Texas, 1946. Her father was a dentist. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She also attended the Academy of Arts College in San Francisco and the New York School of Interior Design. She was married on July 9, 2019, to her fourth husband, Brig. Gen. Pete Dawkins.[2] She is divorced from her first husband, Bubba, with whom she has one son, Colbert Johnson. Her second husband whom she also divorced was Steve Stiles. Third husband was Mandy Ourisman. [3]

From June 12, 1993 until his death on July 5, 2017, she was married to Mandell "Mandy" Ourisman, chairman of Ourisman Automotive Enterprises.[4] She is a supporter of the arts, having organized fund raisers and served on numerous boards of directors for arts groups and museums.[1] She was appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Kennedy Center by President Bush, and she sat on the board of trustees for the Washington National Opera.[5] Ourisman was also on the board of directors for the Blair House, serving on the "decorating committee," for the President's guest house for visiting foreign Heads of State.[6] She served on the Smithsonian National Board in 1999.[7] She has also served on the World Wildlife Fund National Council, McCain 2000, the Elizabeth Dole Committee, and George W. Bush for President (2004).[4] The Ourismans have donated $443,620 to GOP candidates and committees since 1999.[8]

President George W. Bush announced his intention to name Ourisman the Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean on July 20, 2006, and submitted his formal nomination to the Senate the next day.[9] The Senate confirmed Ourisman's nomination on September 13, 2006,[9] she was appointed ambassador on October 11, and she arrived at the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, on October 31.[1]

She is currently involved with the Trust For the National Mall. She has homes in Florida and California.

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ourisman, Mary M. . U.S. Department of State . 2007-10-05 . 2008-04-15 .
  2. "Mary Ourisman, Peter Dawkins," New York Times, July 14, 2019
  3. News: WEDDINGS; Mary Stiles, Mandell Ourisman . The New York Times . 1993-06-13.
  4. Web site: Ourisman, Mary M. . NNDB . 2008-10-07 . 2008-10-07 .
  5. Web site: Ourisman, Mary M. . U.S. Embassy Barbados & Eastern Caribbean . 2008-10-07 . 2008-10-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080915142218/http://barbados.usembassy.gov/bio.html . September 15, 2008 .
  6. Web site: Checkbook Diplomacy: the buying of ambassadorships . The Center of Public Integrity . 2008-08-11 . 2008-10-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110725112651/http://www.buyingofthepresident.org/index.php/stories/checkbook_diplomacy/P0/ . 2011-07-25 .
  7. Web site: Smithsonian Year 1999. Smithsonian Institution. dead. http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20090420195255/http://www.si.edu/opa/annualrpts/99report/introductory.pdf. 2009-04-20.
  8. News: Her Ambassadorship Has Come In. Next Stop: Barbados.. The Washington Post. 2006-07-31 . 2010-04-15 . Amy . Argetsinger . Roxanne . Roberts.
  9. Web site: Presidential Nomination: Mary M. Ourisman . The White House . 2008-04-15 .