Melvin Herbert Evans was the first elected Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, serving from 1969 to 1975. After serving as governor he was delegate

Delegate (United States Congress)

A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...

 from the United States Virgin Islands to the United States House of Representatives

United States House of Representatives

The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...

 from 1979 to 1981.

Evans was born in Christiansted in Saint Croix

Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Saint Croix is an island in the Caribbean Sea, and a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Formerly the Danish West Indies, they were sold to the United States by Denmark in the Treaty of the Danish West Indies of...

, and attended Howard University

Howard University

Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...

, Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

 and the University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...

. He was the Virgin Islands Health Commissioner, and appointed Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, 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

Republican National Committee

The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...

man and served as a delegate to the 1972 Republican National Convention

1972 Republican National Convention

The 1972 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held from August 21 to August 23, 1972 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Florida. It nominated the incumbents Richard M. Nixon of California for President and Spiro T. Agnew of Maryland for Vice...

 and 1976 Republican National Convention

1976 Republican National Convention

The 1976 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States met at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, from August 16 to August 19, 1976. The convention nominated incumbent Gerald Ford for President, but only after narrowly defeating a strong challenge from former California...

.

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

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

. He defeated Democrat Janet Watlington, an aide to outgoing Del. Ron de Lugo

Ron de Lugo

Ron de Lugo was the first Delegate from the United States Virgin Islands to the United States House of Representatives. His fathers parents were Puerto Ricans his grandfather owned a hardware store and gun dealership in Charlotte Amale, St. Thomas. His parents though living in New Jersey at the...

, with 10,458 votes, or 52.2% of the vote. Watlington placed second 9,588 votes, equaling 47.8% 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 Ron de Lugo

Ron de Lugo

Ron de Lugo was the first Delegate from the United States Virgin Islands to the United States House of Representatives. His fathers parents were Puerto Ricans his grandfather owned a hardware store and gun dealership in Charlotte Amale, St. Thomas. His parents though living in New Jersey at the...

.

Evans was appointed United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago

United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago

This is a list of United States Ambassadors to Trinidad and Tobago. 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.

External links

• Profiles of Outstanding Virgin Islanders (includes link to photo)