Samuel Z. Westerfield, Jr.

Samuel Zazu Westerfield Jr. (November 15, 1919, Chicago, Illinois – July 19, 1972, Monrovia, Liberia) was a career foreign services officer who was appointed American ambassador to Liberia on July 8, 1969.

Early life Westerfield's parents were Dr. Samuel Z.C. Westerfield and Rachael Weddleton Colquitt. His father was the first black student to graduate with a Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Nebraska. and serving as dean of the school of business administration at Clark Atlanta University as well as being a visiting professor in the Harvard Business School. Transitioning to government service, he was associate director of the treasury during the Kennedy administration before he became deputy director of the Treasury Department. He went on to become the deputy director of the Debt Analysis Staff and deputy director of the office of International Affairs. He had recently returned from a dinner party when he became ill. Shortly before his death, Westerfield and his wife, Helene, served as official hosts to Mrs. Richard Nixon who attended the inauguration ceremonies of Liberian President William Tolbert. The officially reported cause of death was coronary thrombosis.

Legacy The National Economic Association (NEA) awards the "Samuel Z. Westerfield Jr. Award" every 3–5 years to African-American economists in recognition of outstanding scholarship, distinguished service, and overall excellence. This is the most prestigious award of the NEA. The award was presented first, posthumously, to Ambassador Westerfield.