Melvin Herbert Evans (August 7, 1917 – November 27, 1984) was a Crucian politician, who served as the appointive, and the first elected

governor of the United States Virgin Islands The governor of the United States Virgin Islands is the head of government of the United States Virgin Islands whose responsibilities also include making the annual State of the Territory addresses to the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, Virgi ...

, serving from 1969 to 1975. After serving as governor he was

delegate Delegate or delegates may refer to: * Delegate, New South Wales, a town in Australia * Delegate (CLI), a computer programming technique * Delegate (American politics), a representative in any of various political organizations * Delegate (United ...

from the

United States Virgin Islands The United States Virgin Islands,. Also called the ''American Virgin Islands'' and the ''U.S. Virgin Islands''. officially the Virgin Islands of the United States, are a group of Caribbean islands and an unincorporated and organized territory ...

to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the Lower house, lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the United States Senate, Senate being ...

from 1979 to 1981. Evans was born in

Christiansted Christiansted is the largest town on Saint Croix, one of the main islands composing the United States Virgin Islands, a territory of the United States of America. The town is named after King Christian VI of Denmark. History The town was founded ...

Saint Croix Saint Croix; nl, Sint-Kruis; french: link=no, Sainte-Croix; Danish and no, Sankt Croix, Taino: ''Ay Ay'' ( ) is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), an unincorpo ...

, and attended

Howard University Howard University (Howard) is a private, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" and accredited by the Middle States Commissi ...

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

and the

University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...

. He was the Virgin Islands health commissioner, and was appointed

, serving from 1969 until 1971. He was the first elected Governor in 1970 and served from 1971 until 1975. Evans was a

Republican National Committee The Republican National Committee (RNC) is a U.S. political committee that assists the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican brand and political platform, as well as assisting in fu ...

man and served as a delegate to the

1972 Republican National Convention The 1972 Republican National Convention was held from August 21 to August 23, 1972 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. It nominated President Richard M. Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew for reelection. The convent ...

and

1976 Republican National Convention The 1976 Republican National Convention was a United States political convention of the Republican Party that met from August 16 to August 19, 1976, to select the party's nominee for President. Held in Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, the ...

. On November 7, 1978, Evans was elected delegate to the United States House of Representatives from U.S. Virgin Islands as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

. He defeated Democrat

Janet Watlington Janet may refer to: Names * Janet (given name) * Janet (French singer) (1939–2011) Surname * Charles Janet (1849–1932), French engineer, inventor and biologist, known for the Left Step periodic table * Jules Janet (1861–1945), French psych ...

, an aide to outgoing delegate

Ron de Lugo Ronald de Lugo (August 2, 1930 – July 14, 2020) was an American politician. He was the first Delegate (United States Congress), Delegate from the United States Virgin Islands to the United States House of Representatives. Ron de Lugo's parents ...

, with 10,458 votes, or 52% of the vote. Watlington placed second 9,588 votes, equaling 48% of the total votes cast. Evans served as delegate in the House from January 3, 1979 to January 3, 1981. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1980, losing to former delegate

. Evans was appointed

United States ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago The current United States ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago is Shante Moore as Chargé d'Affaires ''ad interim''. The United States Embassy is located in Trinidad and Tobago's capital, Port of Spain, and was established there on August 31, 1962. ...

, and served until his death. He is interred in Christiansted Cemetery in Saint Croix.Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
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References

External links

Profiles of Outstanding Virgin Islanders
(includes link to photo) , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Melvin H. 1917 births 1984 deaths 20th-century African-American politicians 20th-century American politicians African-American diplomats African-American members of the United States House of Representatives African-American people in United States Virgin Island politics Ambassadors of the United States to Trinidad and Tobago Delegates to the United States House of Representatives from the United States Virgin Islands Governors of the United States Virgin Islands Howard University alumni People from Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands Republican Party governors of the United States Virgin Islands Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from the United States Virgin Islands Republican Party of the Virgin Islands politicians United States Virgin Islands politicians Burials in the United States Virgin Islands

See also

References

External links