Nomination of Geoffrey Swaebe To Be United States Ambassador to Belgium

The President today announced his intention to nominate Geoffrey Swaebe, of California, to be Ambassador to Belgium. He would succeed Charles H. Price II.

Mr. Swaebe was executive officer with Florsheim Shoe Co. in Chicago, Ill., in 1936-1938 and divisional merchandise manager with Thalhimers Department Store in Richmond, Va., in 1938-1948. He was general merchandise manager with Pizitz Department Store in Birmingham, Ala., in 1948-1950; general manager, director, and vice president of the Hecht Co. in Baltimore, Md., in 1950-1962; and chairman of the board and president of the May Department Stores of California in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1962-1972. In 1972-1981 he was self-employed as a business and management consultant in Los Angeles. Since 1981 he has been Representative of the United States of America to the European Office of the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador.

He served in the United States Army in 1942-1946. He was a commissioner of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the city of Los Angeles and a member of the Mayor's Advisory Committee. He attended Boston University. He was born March 23, 1911, in London, England, and became naturalized in 1942.