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August 6, 2008
DEJONGH PROCLAIMS GOVERNOR MELVIN H. EVANS DAY Pursuant to Virgin Islands Code, Gov. John P. deJongh, Jr. has proclaimed August 7, 2008 as "GOVERNOR MELVIN H. EVANS DAY" in the U.S. Virgin Islands, in recognition of the outstanding public service efforts of this notable Virgin Islander. Melvin H. Evans was born on St. Croix on August 7, 1917. He graduated as Valedictorian from Charlotte Amalie High School in 1935, received his Bachelor’s Degree from Howard University in 1940, and received his medical degree with honors from Howard University Medical School in 1944. Evans served with the United States Public Health Service and John Hopkins University, achieving great success as a physician and surgeon, and in 1956, he was appointed by Governor Walter A. Gordon as Commissioner of Health, a position he held for nine years. He was later appointed by President Richard M. Nixon as the last appointed Governor of the Virgin Islands and took the oath of office on July 1, 1969, succeeding Governor Ralph M. Paiewonsky. In 1968, the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands achieved the right to elect their own Governor, and in November 1970, Melvin H. Evans became the first elected Governor of the Virgin Islands, serving from 1971 to 1975. Governor Melvin H. Evans was instrumental in establishing the Virgin Islands National Guard, the building of the St. Croix Campus of the University of the Virgin Islands, the building of the four-lane highway on St. Croix that now bears his name, and obtaining millions of dollars for social programs to serve the needy of the Territory. In November of 1978, Evans was elected as Delegate to Congress, and served one term from 1979 to 1980, where he was instrumental in obtaining federal funds for the construction of the Territory’s new health facilities. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Melvin H. Evans as United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, where he served until his death in November of 1984. Melvin H. Evans received numerous awards for his outstanding community service, including serving as Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Conference in 1973 and 1974. Through the many dedicated efforts of Governor Melvin H. Evans, the social, political and economic standards in the Territory were enhanced. Attorney Eileen Petersen was nominated by Governor Evans, approved by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, and became the first female to serve as a judge in the Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands. |
