Catto, Henry E., 1930-2011

Henry Edward Catto, Jr. (1930-2011) was born in Dallas and graduated from Williams College in 1952. After a brief career in his family’s insurance business he entered politics. Though soundly defeated in bids for a seat in the Texas Legislature in 1960 and 1961, Catto used these experiences as a springboard for a three-decade career in public service in the Republican Party. He was selected by President Richard Nixon as deputy representative to the Organization of American States in 1969, and two years later as ambassador to El Salvador. He later became White House chief of protocol from 1974 to 1976 and served as representative to the United Nations in Geneva from 1976 to 1977, both under President Gerald Ford. Ronald Reagan appointed Catto assistant secretary of defense for public affairs from 1981 to 1983. Then after two years as ambassador to Britain, he became director of the United States Information Agency from 1991 to 1993 under President George Bush. He died in San Antonio in 2011.