Dave Bolen

David Benjamin "Dave" Bolen (born December 23, 1923) is an American track and field athlete, Olympian, diplomat and businessman.

Bolen competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in the 400 metres. He finished fourth in the final behind Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley and Mal Whitfield.

Bolen's later career took him to the US State Department in 1950. In 1974, he served as ambassador to Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana simultaneously, while keeping residence in Gaborone. In 1977, the German speaking Bolen was appointed and confirmed as US Ambassador to the German Democratic Republic. He was the first African-American to serve as ambassador to a nation behind the Iron Curtain. He served until 1980.