William H. Sullivan (photo), a career diplomat and last US ambassador to Iran, died October 11 in Washington, DC. He was 90. He was named ambassador in 1977 and in 1979 was assigned to tell the Shah it was time for him to go. In February 1979, Sullivan was taken hostage when a mob overran the embassy the first time. But that time, the government swiftly sent in troops to reclaim the embassy and free Sullivan and the others being held captive. Sullivan was soon called home and retired from the Foreign Service shortly thereafter.
