Rowan, << ROH uhn, >> Carl Thomas (1925-2000), an American journalist, was director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) in 1964 and 1965. He was the first African American to serve on the National Security Council. He also served as deputy assistant secretary of state for public affairs from 1961 to 1963 and as ambassador to Finland in 1963 and 1964. He was a columnist for the Chicago Daily News from 1965 to 1978, when he became a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Rowan was an outstanding reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune from 1948 to 1961. He received national journalism awards in 1954, 1955, and 1956 from Sigma Delta Chi (now called the Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi). His books include South of Freedom (1952), Go South in Sorrow (1957), and Dream Makers, Dream Breakers: The World of Justice Thurgood Marshall (1993). In 1997, Rowan won the Spingarn Medal for his achievements.
Rowan was born on Aug. 11, 1925, in Ravenscroft, Tennessee. He attended Oberlin College and received a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota. Rowan died on Sept. 23, 2000.
