Evans, Melvin H. (Melvin Herbert), 1917-1984

<p>Melvin Evans achieved distinction as the first popularly elected governor of the Virgin Islands—a multi–island territory in the eastern Caribbean. As the first black Delegate to represent the American territory in the U.S. Congress, Evans used his political experience to promote health care, education, and other areas of concern to his constituents during his brief tenure in the House of Representatives. “A man of conviction and high integrity, Congressman Evans would not be swayed from his principles,” asserted Representative Donald Clausen of California. “A spokesman for the common man, he assured that the interests of his constituents were never overlooked.”</p>

<p>Melvin Herbert (Mel) Evans was born in Christiansted, St. Croix, on August 7, 1917, soon after the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark. After graduating from high school on St. Thomas, Evans received a bachelor of science degree in 1940 from Howard University and an M.D. from the Howard University College of Medicine in 1944. In 1945, Evans married Mary Phyllis Anderson, a nurse he met in a New York hospital; the couple had four sons: William, Melvin, Jr., Robert, and Cornelius. During the next 15 years he served in a variety of medical and public health posts at hospitals and institutions in the United States and the Virgin Islands. From 1959 to 1967 Evans served as the Commissioner of Health for the Virgin Islands; he also was the chairman of the Governor’s Commission on Human Resources from 1962 to 1966. In 1967 he furthered his academic credentials by earning a master’s degree in public health from the University of California at Berkeley. He returned to private practice for two years before President Richard M. Nixon appointed him governor of the Virgin Islands. In August 1968 Congress passed the Virgin Islands Elective Governor Act, providing for the election of a governor by the territory’s residents. Evans was elected as a Republican to the governor’s office in 1970 and served until 1975. After his unsuccessful bid for re–election in 1974, he was Republican National Committeeman from the Virgin Islands and chairman of the board of trustees of the College of the Virgin Islands.</p>

<p>In 1972, Congress authorized nonvoting Delegates for the Virgin Islands and Guam in the House of Representatives. When the first Delegate of the Virgin Islands, Democrat Ron de Lugo, announced his decision to leave the House at the end of the 95th Congress (1977–1979) to run for governor of the American territory, Evans entered the 1978 general election to fill his open seat. In a tight race, Evans narrowly defeated Democrat Janet Watlington, a congressional aide to de Lugo, with 52 percent of the vote, to become the Virgin Islands’s first black Delegate. Sworn in to the 96th Congress (1979–1981) on January 3, 1979, Evans served on the Armed Services, Interior and Insular Affairs, and Merchant Marine and Fisheries committees.</p>

<p>Melvin Herbert Evans (August 7, 1917 – November 27, 1984) was an U.S. Virgin Islands politician, who served as the appointive, and the first elected Governor of the United States Virgin Islands, serving from 1969 to 1975. After serving as governor he was delegate from the United States Virgin Islands to the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 1981.</p>

<p>Evans was born in Christiansted in Saint Croix, and attended Howard University, Washington, D.C. and the University of California, Berkeley. 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 Committeeman and served as a delegate to the 1972 Republican National Convention and 1976 Republican National Convention.</p>

<p>On November 7, 1978, Evans was elected Delegate to the United States House of Representatives from U.S. Virgin Islands as a Republican. He defeated Democrat Janet Watlington, an aide to outgoing Del. Ron de Lugo, 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 Ron de Lugo.</p>

<p>Evans was appointed United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, and served until his death. He is interred in Christiansted Cemetery in Saint Croix.</p>

EVANS, Melvin Herbert, a Delegate from the Virgin Islands; born in Christiansted, St. Croix, V.I., August 7, 1917; attended the public schools; B.S., Howard University, Washington, D.C., 1940; M.D., Howard University College of Medicine, 1944; M.P.H., University of California, Berkeley, Calif., 1967; Virgin Islands Health Commissioner, 1959-1967; private practice of medicine, 1967-1969; appointed Governor of Virgin Islands, and served from 1969 until 1971; first elected Governor of Virgin Islands in 1970 and served from 1971 until 1975; Republican National Committeeman for United States, Virgin Islands, 1976-1980; delegate, Republican National Conventions, 1972 and 1976; elected as a Republican to the Ninety-sixth Congress (January 3, 1979-January 3, 1981); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1980 to the Ninety-seventh Congress; United States ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, December 1, 1981, until his death; was a resident of Christiansted, St. Croix, V.I., until his death there on November 27, 1984; interment in Christiansted Cemetery.