Margaret D. Tutwiler
The following biographical sketch was compiled at the time of induction into the Academy in 1991.
Birmingham, Alabama, is the birthplace of Margaret DeBardeleben Tutwiler who was born December 28, 1950, the daughter of Temple Tutwiler, II, and Margaret DeBardeleben Tutwiler.
She received her grammar school education at Birmingham grammar schools and high school education at Brooke Hill High School in Birmingham. Margaret Tutwiler attended Finch College at New York from 1969-1971 and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 1973.
She began her professional career as a bookkeeper at the First National Bank of Birmingham in 1974. That same year she accepted the position of Office Manager and Executive Secretary to the Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party. In 1975 she was called to Washington as Assistant Office Manager for the Fund for Government Investors.
As Margaret Tutwiler's ability for performance was recognized, she was called upon to accept more and larger responsibilities. From July 1975 to July 1976 she assumed the job of Executive Director of President Ford's Committee for Alabama.
The National Association of Manufacturers for Alabama and Mississippi engaged Margaret Tutwiler's expertise in persuasion to represent its interests in Washington during 1977 and 1978.
The experts who deal with our nation's economy did not overlook Ms. Tutwiler's capabilities, and she became Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and Public Liaison, for the United States Department of the Treasury from 1985 through 1988. From November 1988 to January 1989 she was senior advisor for the Transition team of the U.S. Department of State. Then Margaret Tutwiler served briefly as consultant for the Department of State before she was promoted in March 1989 to the very important position of Assistant Secretary of State and spokesperson for the United States Department of State.
She was honored as one of 31 outstanding graduates of the University of Alabama at the 1993 centennial celebration of women at the University. She is a recipient of the Medal of Service Award from Birmingham Southern University for her "exemplary public service," and is the youngest ever to be inducted into the Alabama Hall of Honor.
In August 1995, Miss Tutwiler was elected to the Board of Directors of Legg Mason Inc., the Baltimore-based securities brokerage and money managment firm.
As Margaret DeBardeleben Tutwiler, an Alabama born and bred young lady, lifts her voice with news on the airways and other media to be heard around the globe, she reflects pride on Alabama and the United States.
When Margaret Tutwiler finds time from her demanding schedule, she loves to work with her roses or do needlepoint or prepare delicious food. But most of all she delights in being with members of her family.
In March 2001, President George W. Bush nominated Margaret Tutwiler to be U.S. Ambassador to Morocco.