Covey T. Oliver

Covey Thomas Oliver (deceased), "a professor of international law who served in several diplomatic positions, including U.S. ambassador to Colombia, died Feb. 22 [2007] of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at his home in Talbot County, Md., near Easton...

"During World War II, he moved to Washington as a member of the U.S. Board of Economic Warfare, a federal body that procured raw materials and other items necessary for the war effort. He also served in Spain, where he was charged with purchasing industrial materials to keep them out of the hands of the enemies of the Allies.

"Dr. Oliver served in the State Department until 1949, when he was appointed professor of international law at the University of California at Berkeley. He became the first director of the Institute of International Studies at Berkeley and was co-author of several books on international law...

"In 1956, Dr. Oliver joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He was named to the Inter-American Juridical Committee of the Organization of American States by President John F. Kennedy in 1962.

"Two years later, Dr. Oliver, who spoke fluent Spanish and Portuguese, was named ambassador to Colombia, where he served for two years. In 1967, he became assistant secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs and was U.S. coordinator of the Alliance for Progress. He later held an executive position with the World Bank...

"He was president of the American Society of International Law and for many years was editor of the American Journal of International Law. He was a member of the Council of Foreign Relations, the American Law Institute, Phi Beta Kappa and the Order of the Coif."