“I call upon all of our people, in every place and in every way, to become totally involved constructively and make the nation indeed a prosperous and glorious Land of Liberty.”
Who Am I?
In his prime, at the age of 67, on April 12, 1980, President William Richard Tolbert Jr. was assassinated, terminating his goal and aspiration of building a “wholesome functional society” in Liberia.
He was born to the union of William R. and Charlotte A. (Hoff) Tolbert Sr. on May 13, 1913 in Bensonville, (later changed to Bentol), Montserrado County, Liberia, both of whom emigrated from the United Stated of America with their parents in the mid 1800s.
HIS EXCELLENCY
REV. DR. WILLIAM RICHARD TOLBERT, JR
MAY 13, 1913 – APRIL 12, 1980
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
1971 - 1980
His early education commenced at the Government Elementary School in Bensonville and later at Crumwel Hall, a Protestant Episcopal High School in Clay-Ashland. From there, he matriculated to Liberia College (now the University of Liberia). In 1934, he graduated Summa Cum Laude, a “first” in the history of the University of Liberia with this distinction and was the third Liberian President to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Liberia College. His valedictorian address entitled: “Education as Related to Social Progress” was relevant then and today. In 1952, he received the degree of Doctor of Civil Laws in International Affairs. In 1966, he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity, Honoris Causa.
William R. Tolbert, Jr. was a strong believer of Jesus Christ; his faith was nurtured by his parents who taught him to love and fear God. He began serving His Lord and Master on the national and international levels at an early age. Becoming a Deacon in1933, to a Licentiate in 1951, he subsequently was ordained as Elder and later Pastor of Zion Praise Baptist Church in Bensonville (Bentol) at age 38. He served in this capacity up until his home going. President Tolbert also progressed in the national Baptist leadership, from National Vice President to becoming President of Liberia Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention until his death. During his tenure, he saw many new schools and churches brought into existence under his farsighted and able leadership. Monuments to his memory stand: Ricks Institute, Kwendin Vocational Institute, and the Liberia Baptist Theological Seminary.
His outstanding abilities were instrumental in his election in 1960, as Vice President of the Baptist World Alliance for Africa. In 1965, he was elected by acclamation, as President of the same body. As President of the Baptist World Alliance, he represented this body efficiently all over the world and had the opportunity to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ even behind the “Iron Curtain”, in Russia, China, Bulgaria, Romania, etc. He purposefully promoted fellowship worldwide between Baptists and various other denominations. Five years into his leadership as president, he saw five million more souls added to this convention. Total membership increased from twenty one million, to twenty six million Baptists.
President Tolbert’s ascendancy to public leadership was equally impressive. From a humble beginning, in 1935 he began his career as Clerk in the Bureau of Supplies, at the Treasury Department. His devotion to duty won him recognition and promotion to Typist. In 1936, he was elevated to the position of Disbursing Officer with credit until 1943. In that same year, he was elected to the House of Representatives from
Montserrado County. In the House, he became Chairman of two committees; Ways, Means and Finance along with Agriculture and Commerce. During his first term he sponsored over 400 resolutions and pieces of legislation including a bill calling for women’s right to vote. His persuasive arguments and his firm and clear approach to matters of the moment won him the admiration of his colleagues.
He was elected to the position of Vice President of the Republic of Liberia in 1951, with President Tubman. Together they were re-elected successively in 1955, 1959, 1963, 1967 and 1971. Through his tenure, he served his country faithfully with integrity and diligence, presiding over the Liberian Senate and ably represented the President nationally and internationally. One significant representation was when he served as personal advisor to the Liberian Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in the United States and to the International Wheat Conference in 1949
As Vice President, some of his noteworthy representations of the President and people of the Republic of Liberia include his leading of numerous delegations at the:
• Coronation of Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom in 1953
• Independence of Ghana in 1957
• Funeral of Pope Pius X11 in Rome in 1958,
• Independence of Togo in 1960
• Inauguration of Nigeria’s first Governor General, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1960
• Independence of Senegal in 1961
• Funeral of United Nations Secretary General, Dag Hammarskjold of Sweden in 1961
• Independence of Tanganyika in 1961
• Coronation of Pope Paul VI in 1963
• Funeral of John F. Kennedy in 1963
He was elected to the position of Vice President of the Republic of Liberia in 1951, alongside President Tubman. Together, they were re-elected successively in 1955, 1959, 1963, 1967, and 1971. Through his tenure, he served his country faithfully with integrity and diligence, presiding over the Liberian Senate and ably represented the President nationally and internationally. One significant representation was when he served as personal advisor to the Liberian Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in the United States and to the International Wheat Conference in 1949
On July 22, 1971, at the passing of President William V.S. Tubman Sr., William R. Tolbert Jr. succeeded him as President according to the constitution of the Republic of Liberia. During the 9 years of his presidency, he ushered in a new day with a resounding call for speedy development, self-reliance, self-sufficiency, and the wholesome fulfillment of the people of Liberia, while being dedicated to dignity, diligence, integrity, hard work, time consciousness, and patriotism. He was popularly referred to as “speedy” amongst Liberians as he manifested acute urgency for national development. His “Mat to Matress” program can be compared to the current Poverty Reduction Strategy of Liberia. He saw the “Total Involvement”, industriousness, and collective effort of ALL Liberians as a significant strategy to eradicate poverty of the masses and raise the country to “Higher Heights.”
Instituted free public elementary and high school education and subsidized up to fifty percent tuition, books, and board for all College and University students throughout the country.
• Began construction of a new campus for the University of Liberia, moving it from Monrovia to Fendall so as to allow a greater number of students from all strata of society to enter the university.
• Invested over one million dollars in 1972 in a wholly government-owned mechanized Agricultural Company (AGRIMECO), to spearhead land clearance and development of vast areas to cope with the proliferation of agricultural co-operatives.
• Established two public corporations to maximize the production of oil palm, coconuts, cocoa, and coffee.
• Established essential development finance Institutions such as the National Housing Bank, the Agricultural Bank and Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) in order to stimulate capital flow into the Agricultural, Housing and priority development sectors.
• Expanded health facilities to include free medical care to prenatal mothers and infants up to two years.
• Constructed thousands of low-cost housing units in Gardnersville(Stephen Tolbert Estates), Barnersville Estate, Matadi and New Matadi Estates, Cabral Estates in Sinkor, and the New Georgia Estate.
• Established the Ministry of Action for Development.
• Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.
• Enacted the Revenue and Finance Law of 1977 to abolish the regressive ‘austerity’ tax and to make the income tax structure more progressive.
• Increased revenue and receipts from $77.5 million in 1972 to $185.5 million in 1978, an average annual growth rate of over 15 percent.
President William R. Tolbert, Jr. was more than a renowned statesman. He was a Pan-Africanist, who was influential in assisting many African countries obtain political independence and restore their dignity. He was also one of those instrumental in bringing into being major African institutions such as the African Development Bank (ADB), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Mano River Union, and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU).
Other key accomplishments on the international scene were as follows:
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Unanimously elected Chairman of the OAU in 1978 and Hosted the OAU in Liberia in 1979.
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Provided sanctuary and financial support to a number of revolutionary liberation and anti-apartheid leaders from Nelson Mandela’s ANC in South Africa to Robert Mugabe’s ZANU in Zimbabwe to Sam Njoma’s SWAPO of South West Africa.
In his private life, he was a successful entrepreneur and farmer. He had one of the largest farms in Liberia, planting rubber, oil palm, coffee, cocoa, coconuts, and citrus, and produced all the rice needed for his entire family. In addition to his agricultural pursuits, he invested with his brother, the late Stephen Allen Tolbert, to establish the Mesurado Group of Companies in 1955 which became Liberia’s largest indigenous enterprise worth millions of dollars and employing over five thousands people in Liberia and spanning several countries. William R. Tolbert Jr. and the Horton family were also instrumental in establishing the Bank of Liberia, the first indigenous Liberian Bank with Chemical Bank as the USA partner and served as Chairman of the Board until his ascension to the Presedency of the country.
As most successful men, President Tolbert was happily married in Holy matrimony on May 12, 1936 to Miss Victoria A. David, daughter of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, Honourable Isaac A. David, Sr. from Grand Cape Mount County. This union was blessed with eight children, two boys and six girls.
President Tolbert had a large family, including many children, and was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, who always had an open home and showed love and care for his relatives and family members. His expressions and demonstration of concern for mankind, earned him the distinctive honor on October 31, 1974 with the “Family of Man” Award, the first African ever to be awarded this prestigious award.