World Food Prize Ambassador Quinn
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THE ARCHIVE OF AMBASSADOR KENNETH M. QUINN
FROM THE MISSISSIPPI TO THE MEKONG
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This section of Ambassador Quinn’s archive has documents that provide extensive details from various phases of his life and particularly his 52-year involvement in foreign affairs. 

Government Documents:

This section is a compilation of original memoranda, essays and briefing papers either prepared by Ambassador Quinn or about issues on which he had direct involvement. These documents are from the 1970s to the early 2000s when Ambassador Quinn was directly involved in foreign affairs.

Oral History:

Ambassador Quinn’s Oral History traces his odyssey from birth in the Bronx, New York in 1942, through a move to the Midwest at age 10, and eventually high school and college in Dubuque, Iowa. Following graduate school at Marquette and the University of Maryland, he passed the highly competitive tests to join the Foreign Service. This Oral History is home to many stories from Ambassador Quinn’s childhood as well as stories from the beginning of his career as a Foreign Service Officer in Vietnam during the war.

Ambassador Quinn’s Farewell Reception:

The farewell reception for Ambassador Quinn was held to honor his retirement after serving 20 years as President of the World Food Prize Foundation. The reception featured video tributes to him by World Food Prize Laureates and members of the Council of Advisors, a surprise musical send off and a farewell message from Ambassador Quinn to his staff.

2019 President’s Report:

Ambassador Quinn’s 2019 President's Report, prepared at the end of his two decade long tenure at the World Food Prize, recounts his achievements inspired by the vision of Dr. Norman E. Borlaug. Between 2000 and 2019, Ambassador Quinn endeavored to build the annual $250,000 World Food Prize, Borlaug Dialogue International Symposium, Global Youth Institute and Hall of Laureates into the "Nobel Prize for Food and Agriculture."  

Nomination for the Presidential Medal of Freedom:

The 23rd recipient of the Iowa Award, the state's highest citizen honor, Ambassador Quinn was twice nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As the nomination outlines, this was based on his leadership in confronting global hunger while serving as president of the World Food Prize Foundation.

© 2024 World Food Prize Ambassador Quinn. All rights reserved.