Myrick, Bismarck, 1940-

Bismarck Myrick Sr. (December 23, 1940 – September 29, 2024) was an American diplomat who was U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia (1999–2002) and Lesotho (1995–1998). He was a career member of the Senior Foreign Service and a decorated Vietnam War hero. He represented the U.S. at the swearing in of South Africa's first democratic parliament, led by Nelson Mandela. The Kingdom of Lesotho conferred on him the Kingdom's highest honor to a non-citizen. Liberia's major newspapers and civil society organizations named him "Diplomat of the Year" or "Man of the Year" for three consecutive years. The Portsmouth, Virginia City Council appointed him Goodwill Ambassador for Goree Island, Senegal in 2008. Portsmouth named two streets in his honor in 2001 and selected him as a 2006 "Portsmouth Notable" – the city's highest honor. He is featured in the March, 2013 edition of "The Citizen of Chesapeake" Newspaper. Active in community service, he was on a number of boards, such as the World Affairs Council.