From collection Member List
R. Richard Rubottom, Jr. (Southern Methodist) was born in Brownwood, Texas in 1912. He attended Southern Methodist University on a scholarship as a 16 year old, earning his bachelor's in journalism in 1932. A member of Gamma-Sigma Zeta, he was also class president and editor of the student newspaper at SMU. He would go on to earn a master’s in international relations in 1933. In 1941, he enlisted in the Navy, serving in the Naval intelligence posts in Mexico and Paraguay, reaching the rank of Commander.
Rubottom then joined the State Department, first assigned as a Political Officer for the U.S. Embassy in Colombia. Future assignments included Director of U.S. Economic Mission in Spain and Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs in Washington D.C. In 1960, he was appointed the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina. During his time in the State Department, he influenced US policy toward Cuba in the critical years after the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.
After retiring from the State Department, Richard Rubottom returned to SMU as the Vice President for university life, then later Administrative Vice President and Vice President for Planning. He left SMU in 1971 to become president of the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico, before returning to SMU, where he retired as a professor of political science and scholar in residence.
He also served on the Executive Committee and Educational Foundation Board of Lambda Chi Alpha. Rubottom was awarded the Order of Achievement from Lambda Chi in 1988.
He died on December 6, 2010 in Austin, Texas at 98 years old.
Rubottom then joined the State Department, first assigned as a Political Officer for the U.S. Embassy in Colombia. Future assignments included Director of U.S. Economic Mission in Spain and Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs in Washington D.C. In 1960, he was appointed the U.S. Ambassador to Argentina. During his time in the State Department, he influenced US policy toward Cuba in the critical years after the revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power.
After retiring from the State Department, Richard Rubottom returned to SMU as the Vice President for university life, then later Administrative Vice President and Vice President for Planning. He left SMU in 1971 to become president of the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico, before returning to SMU, where he retired as a professor of political science and scholar in residence.
He also served on the Executive Committee and Educational Foundation Board of Lambda Chi Alpha. Rubottom was awarded the Order of Achievement from Lambda Chi in 1988.
He died on December 6, 2010 in Austin, Texas at 98 years old.
