James Richard Cheek

James Richard Cheek (April 27, 1936 – May 16, 2011) was an American diplomat.

James Richard Cheek
United States Ambassador to Argentina
In office May 28, 1993 – December 18, 1996
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Terence A. Todman
Succeeded by	Ronald D. Godard
United States Ambassador to Sudan
In office October 10, 1989 – August 8, 1992
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	G. Norman Anderson
Succeeded by	Donald K. Petterson
Personal details
Born	(1936-04-27)April 27, 1936 Decatur, Georgia
Died	May 16, 2011(2011-05-16) (aged 75) Little Rock, Arkansas
Nationality	American
Profession	Diplomat
Awards	Distinguished Honor Award

Life

Born in Decatur, Georgia, Cheek served as United States Ambassador to Sudan in 1989, succeeding G. Norman Anderson and later was the United States Ambassador to Argentina from 1993–1996. He lived in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Foreign service career

Cheek served as a career member of the Foreign Service beginning in 1962. Over the years he served in many notable positions with the State Department including chief of the political section from 1971–1974, congressional fellow for the United States Senate and House of Representatives, 1974 – 1975; Deputy Director for Regional Affairs in the Bureau of Near East and South Asian Affairs, 1975 – 1977; and deputy chief of mission in Montevideo, 1977 – 1979. He has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs, 1979 – 1981.

Cheek was a foreign affairs fellow at Howard University and Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, 1981 – 1982; deputy chief of mission in Kathmandu, 1982 – 1985; and chief of mission and Chargé d'Affaires in Addis Ababa, 1985 – 1988.

From 1988 he was diplomat-in-residence at Howard University.