In Memoriam: Jim Kolbe

Dec 5 2022

Author(s)

Jim Kolbe

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Source

The Dialogue mourns the loss of former US Representative and former Dialogue board member, Jim Kolbe. Kolbe passed away on December 3, 2022 at the age of 80.

Kolbe was an active member of the Inter-American Dialogue from 2001-2022, serving on the board and participating in many events. Kolbe was a dedicated mentor and often hosted brown bag lunches for interns and junior staff. Kolbe was also a frequent commentator for the Latin America Advisor.

From 1985 to 2007, Kolbe represented Arizona as a member of the US House of Representatives. While in Congress, Kolbe served for six years on the House Budget Committee and for 20 years on the Appropriations Committee. He chaired the Treasury, Post Office, and Related Agencies Subcommittee for four years and the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Agencies Subcommittee for six years.

Prior to holding national office, Kolbe served three terms in the Arizona State Senate. Kolbe received numerous awards and tributes. Notable among them is the George Marshall Award for Distinguished Service from the US Agency for International Development and the Order of the Aztec from the president of Mexico. Kolbe was the vice chair of the International Republican Institute and a member of the Board of Directors of Freedom House, the Institute for Science and Global Policy, the Project on Middle East Democracy, the Community Food Bank of Southern California, and the Critical Path Institute. He was also a senior transatlantic fellow at the German Marshall Fund, a senior advisor at McLarty Associates, and president of JTKConsulting.