Author:
Stephanie Chalana Brown
Subject:
Health, Medicine and Nursing, Virgin Islands Culture
Material Type:
Diagram/Illustration
Level:
Upper Primary, Middle School, High School
Tags:
Melvin Herbert Evans, VI Governor, VI History, Virgin Islands History, melvin-herbert-evans, vi-governor, vi-history, virgin-islands-history
License:
Creative Commons Attribution
Language:
English
Media Formats:
Graphics/Photos

Education Standards

Melvin Herbert Evans is the Virgin Islands' first elected Governor

Melvin Herbert Evans is the Virgin Islands' first elected Governor

Overview

Melvin Herbert Evans is the Virgin Islands' first elected governor. Evans graduated from Howard University with a B.S. in 1940 and from the Howard College of Medicine with an M.D. four years later, following graduation from high school on St. Thomas. He then worked in a variety of medical and public health positions for the United States and the Virgin Islands.

“Melvin H. Evans Day”

Melvin Herbert Evans is the Virgin Islands' first-elected governor. He was born in Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, on August 7, 1917, shortly after the U.S. purchased the island from Denmark. Evans graduated from Howard University in 1970 with a B.S. degree and from the Howard College of Medicine with an M.D. four years later, following graduation from high school on St. Thomas. He then worked in a variety of medical and public health positions for the United States and the Virgin Islands.

 
Evans served as a second lieutenant in the United States Medical Administrative Corps from 1942 until 1945. He also served as the Islands' health commissioner from 1959 to 1967. He returned to private practice for two years until President Nixon nominated him Governor of the Islands in July 1969. In November 1970, he was elected Governor. 
 
Evans was elected to the House in 1978 and sworn in as a member of the 96th Congress on January 3, 1979. Evans sponsored legislation that would let foreign physicians practice in local health facilities, addressing the Islands' severe physician shortage. Highway 66 in the US Virgin Islands is a major east–west thoroughfare on St. Croix. The highway is named in honor of the territory's first-elected governor, Melvin H. Evans.
 
 

“Melvin H. Evans Day”

Melvin Herbert Evans is the Virgin Islands' first elected governor. He was born in Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, on August 7, 1917, shortly after the US purchased the island from Denmark. Evans graduated from Howard University with a B.S. in 1940 and from the Howard College of Medicine with an M.D. four years later, following graduation from high school on St. Thomas. He then worked in a variety of medical and public health positions for the United States and the Virgin Islands.
 
Evans served as a second lieutenant in the United States Medical Administrative Corps from 1942 until 1945. He also served as the Islands' health commissioner from 1959 to 1967. He returned to private practice for two years until President Nixon nominated him Governor of the Islands in July 1969. In November 1970, he was elected Governor. Evans was elected to the House in 1978 and sworn in as a member of the 96th Congress on January 3, 1979. Evans sponsored legislation that would let foreign physicians to practice in local health facilities, addressing the Islands' severe physician shortage. Highway 66 in the US Virgin Islands is a major east–west thoroughfare on St. Croix. The highway is named in honor of the territory's first elected governor, Melvin H. Evans.