Melvin H. Evans
Melvin H. Evans | |
|---|---|
| United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago | |
| In office January 1, 1982 – November 21, 1984 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Irving G. Cheslaw |
| Succeeded by | Sheldon J. Krys |
| Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the U.S. Virgin Islands' at-large district | |
| In office January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Ron de Lugo |
| Succeeded by | Ron de Lugo |
| 1st Governor of the United States Virgin Islands | |
| In office January 4, 1971 – January 6, 1975 | |
| Lieutenant | David Earle Maas Athniel C. Ottley |
| Preceded by | Himself |
| Succeeded by | Cyril King |
| 10th Civilian Governor of the United States Virgin Islands | |
| In office July 1, 1969 – January 4, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Cyril King (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Himself |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Melvin Herbert Evans August 7, 1917 |
| Died | November 27, 1984 (aged 67) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Evans |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Howard University (BS, MD) University of California, Berkeley (MPH) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1942-1945 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Melvin Herbert Evans (August 7, 1917 – November 27, 1984) was an American politician who served as the first elected governor of the United States Virgin Islands and was the first black person elected governor in the United States' history. After his tenure as governor, he served as the territory's at-large delegate to the United States House of Representatives and ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.
Evans was born in 1917 in Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands, and was the valedictorian of his high-school class. He graduated magna cum laude from Howard University and later the University of California, Berkeley. From 1959 to 1967, he was the health commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands and oversaw a decline in infant mortality.
President Richard Nixon appointed Evans as the islands' governor, the last one to be appointed rather than elected, and the following year became its first elected governor. His tenure saw a great increase in road construction and he chaired the Southern Governors' Association. He lost reelection in 1974, but he later was elected to one term in the U.S. House.