The United States’ first black Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powel has died at the age of 84. He died from complications related to Covid-19.
Powel was one of America’s leading black figures for decades. He was a professional soldier whose career took him from combat duty in Vietnam to becoming the first black National Security Adviser during the Ronald Reagan presidency.
As a four-star Army general, he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George W. Bush Snr during the 1991 Gulf War in which U.S – led forces expelled Iraqi troops from neighbouring Kuwait.
A decade later in 2001, he was appointed US Secretary of State under President George W. Bush Jnr thus, becoming the highest-ranking black public officer in the country till date, standing fourth in the presidential line of succession.
Gen. Powell is survived by his wife, Alma Vivian (Johnson) Powell, whom he married in 1962, and three children.
