George W. Landau

George Walter Landau (March 4, 1920 – October 9, 2018) was an American diplomat who served as the United States ambassador to Paraguay, Chile, and Venezuela.

Early life and education George Walter Landau was born on March 4, 1920, in Vienna, Austria, to a Jewish family. He left Austria for Colombia, South America, in July 1938, shortly after Nazi Germany annexed Austria in the Anschluss. In Colombia, he converted to Catholicism and, with the help of the Roman Catholic Church, secured his parents' release from Austria. He eventually obtained employment with Otis Elevator Company in Colombia, was transferred to the New York office, and arrived in the United States in July 1941. Landau thought this situation was unfair, and wrote a letter to the Attorney General of the United States requesting relief. He delivered the letter in person to the Department of Justice in Washington on Christmas Eve 1941, and obtained a letter from the department stating that there was no basis for discharging him.

He attended New York University before receiving his associate degree in 1969 from George Washington University. In May 1988, George Washington University awarded him an honorary doctor of public service degree.

Career

Military career Landau entered the United States Army in November 1942. After graduating from Officer's Candidate School, he served as Military Intelligence Officer in the European Theater of Operations. He left active duty status as a captain in Military Intelligence in 1947 but remained in the United States Army Reserve until 1975, when he retired with the rank of colonel. Among his decorations are the Army Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.

Landau served in private business as an executive of a shipping company from 1947 to 1955, and as general manager of an American automobile distributor in Colombia from 1955 to 1957. President Ronald Reagan appointed him to be ambassador to Venezuela, and he served from 1982 to 1985.