Vernon Huber (August 28, 1899 – June 17, 1967) was a
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
rear admiral
Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
, and the 36th
governor of American Samoa
This is a list of governors, etc. of the part of the Samoan Islands (now comprising American Samoa) under United States administration since 1900.
From 1900 to 1978 governors were appointed by the Federal government of the United States. Since ...
from April 22, 1947, to June 15, 1949. He was born in
Philadelphia, Illinois, and was appointed to the
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...
from that state. He served as the first commanding officer of the destroyer upon its launch in 1940. After his appointment, he advocated the diversification of the
American Samoan economy. He also helped to increase the level American Samoan self-government, and was the first governor to serve alongside a Samoan legislature, the
American Samoa Fono
The American Samoa Fono is the territorial legislature of American Samoa. Like most states and territorial legislatures of the United States, it is a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate. The legislature is locate ...
.
Life
Huber was born on August 28, 1899, in
Philadelphia, Illinois, to parents Herbert Oliver and Nelle Davis Huber.
On December 27, 1927, he married Ida Brown.
[ Upon arriving at the ]El Camino Hospital
El Camino Health is a non-profit hospital with 420 beds (Mountain View Main Campus) based on a campus in Mountain View, California. There is a second, smaller hospital campus, El Camino Hospital, Los Gatos, in Los Gatos, with additional satellit ...
in Los Altos, California
Los Altos (; Spanish for "The Heights") is a city in Santa Clara County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 31,625 according to the 2020 census.
Most of the city's growth occurred between 1950 and 1980. Originally a ...
, on June 16, 1967, Huber was pronounced dead.[
]
Naval career
Huber was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...
on July 17, 1918. He was the first commander of the destroyer upon its launch in 1940.
Governorship
On August 22, 1947, Huber relieved Harold Houser
Harold Alexander Houser (March 31, 1897 – September 3, 1981) was a United States Navy Rear admiral, and the governor of American Samoa from September 10, 1945, to April 22, 1947.
Biography
Houser was born in Fort Valley, Georgia to Emmett a ...
and took the office of Governor of American Samoa
This is a list of governors, etc. of the part of the Samoan Islands (now comprising American Samoa) under United States administration since 1900.
From 1900 to 1978 governors were appointed by the Federal government of the United States. Since ...
.[ His assistant governor was ]Ralph Ramey
Ralph (pronounced ; or ,) is a male given name of English, Scottish and Irish origin, derived from the Old English ''Rædwulf'' and Radulf, cognate with the Old Norse ''Raðulfr'' (''rað'' "counsel" and ''ulfr'' "wolf").
The most common forms ...
.
Huber supported the opening of a cannery by famed aviator Harold Gatty
Harold Charles Gatty (5 January 1903 – 30 August 1957) was an Australian navigator and aviation pioneer. Charles Lindbergh called Gatty the "Prince of Navigators."Gywnn-Jones, Terry, ''Harold Gatty, Aviation Navigation Expert'', Aviation Histo ...
, believing it would help diversify the American Samoan economy.
During his term, the Samoans moved towards greater self-government. Under Huber's encouragement, the legislature of the territory, the American Samoa Fono
The American Samoa Fono is the territorial legislature of American Samoa. Like most states and territorial legislatures of the United States, it is a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate. The legislature is locate ...
, convened for the first time. As governor, Huber maintained certain powers over the legislature, including the power of veto
A veto is a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action. In the most typical case, a president or monarch vetoes a bill to stop it from becoming law. In many countries, veto powers are established in the country's constitution. Veto ...
. This reversed the previous position of Governor Otto Dowling
Otto Carl Dowling (February 28, 1881 – April 14, 1946) was a United States Navy Captain, and the 25th Governor of American Samoa from April 17, 1934, to January 15, 1936. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1903. Dowling ...
, who had claimed an act of the United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...
would be required to form a legislature. He ceded the office to Thomas Francis Darden Jr. on June 15, 1949.[
]
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Huber, Vernon
1899 births
1967 deaths
People from Cass County, Illinois
Governors of American Samoa
United States Navy admirals
United States Navy personnel of World War I
United States Navy personnel of World War II
United States Naval Academy alumni
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Military personnel from Illinois