FORMER AMBASSADOR GEORGE L. ARGYROS
Bio
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George L. Argyros, United
States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra
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George L. Argyros was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra on November 21, 2001
and presented his credentials to King Juan Carlos I on December 13, 2001.
Until his appointment, Ambassador Argyros was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arnel & Affiliates,
a prominent US West Coast diversified investment company, with corporate offices located in Costa Mesa,
California. He was also a General Partner in Westar Capital, a private investment company.
From 1981-1987, he was co-owner of AirCal and from 1981-1989 he was owner of the Seattle Mariners
Baseball Club of the American League for nine full seasons.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Argyros was a member of the Board of Directors for Rockwell International
Corporation (NYSE); First American Corporation (NYSE); DST Systems, Inc. (NYSE);
The Newhall Land and Farming Company (NYSE); Tecstar; Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Harper Leather Goods,
Inc., and Verteq, Inc.
Ambassador Argyros formerly served as a member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations
for the U.S. Trade Ambassador, resigning that position in 1990, when President Bush appointed him to the
board of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FreddieMac). He completed his term on the FreddieMac
Board in March 1993.
From 1976 to 2001 he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Chapman University, one of the West's
finest private universities. He continues to serve as a board member at Chapman. Ambassador Argyros is
a member of the Board of Trustees for the California Institute of Technology (CalTech), where he formerly
served as Chairman of the Investment Committee.
Ambassador Argyros is Chairman of the Board of Directors for The Beckman Foundation; former Chairman and
current Treasurer of the Horatio Alger Association; former Chairman of the Richard Nixon Library and
Birthplace Foundation; Founding Chairman for the Nixon Center in Washington D.C.; former Chairman
and board member of the Orange County Council Boy Scouts of America.
Born in Detroit, Michigan and raised in Pasadena, California, Ambassador Argyros graduated from Chapman
University in 1959 with a major in Business and Economics. He is a recognized business leader in the
community, with involvement in numerous civic and community activities.� He and his wife of 40 years,
Julia, have three grown children and six grandchildren.
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