>>> THE LANDSCAPE OF E UNITED STATES TO VIRGIN ISLANDS WAS RICH WITH HISTORICAL MOMENTS.

AND JANUARY 4th, 1971, WERE JUST AS SIGNIFICANT.

THE MORNING DAWNS UP AS BEAUTIFUL AS ANY OTHER, BUT THEY KNEW THE FUTURE OF THE ISLANDS AND ITS PEOPLE WOULD BE CHANGED FOREVER AS THE FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR WAS SWORN IN TO OFFICE.

>> HELLO.

AWFUL LOT OF EXCITEMENT.

HISTORIC IN THE SENSE THAT MELVIN EVANS WAS THE FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES WERE ALL THERE.

CELEBRATION OF HIM BECOMING THE FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR.

>> IT WAS LIKE SIX MONTHS, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY JUMPING.

IT REALLY WAS FUN.

NOT ONLY FUN, HE MADE HISTORY.

>> IT WAS VERY EXCITING.

WHEN WE CONSIDER THAT BOTH OF THEM -- I THINK IT WAS QUITE -- >> HAVING AN ELECTED GOVERNOR WASN'T ALWAYS SOMETHING THE GENERAL PUBLIC THOUGHT THEY NEEDED.

DURING A REFERENDUM HELD IN THE 1940s AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY VOTED AGAINST IT, IN FACT, BUT BY THE 1960s, AS IT BECAME MORE INDUSTRIALIZED AND ECONOMICALLY INDEPENDENT, THEY WERE READY.

MELVIN H. EVANS WAS BORN ON AUGUST 7th, 1917, TO CHARLES AND WARD EVANS.

OLDER OF TWO CHILDREN.

HIS FATHER WAS A MASTER CARPENTER WHO MOVED TO NEW YORK TO FIND MORE WORK, LEAVING HIS WIFE TO RAISE THE TWO CHILDREN AS A SINGLE PARENT.

>> MOTHER BROUGHT HIM UP AND HIS SISTER UP BY HERSELF.

AND SHE WAS A VERY WONDERFUL LADY BUT STRICT.

SO HE DID GET A CHANCE TO REALLY VIEW THE THINGS THAT YOUNG BOYS GET A CHANCE TO DO.

>> SHE WORKED AT A STORE DOWN ON KING STREET.

AND SHE ALSO HAD A HOBBY WHICH WAS AN INCOME-PRODUCING HOBBY.

SHE HAD FLOWERS AND GARDENING.

RAISING NOE IING FLOWERS IN THE.

SHE WOULD SELL AT DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.

>> AS A CHILD MELVIN EVANS ATTENDED CHRISTIAN GRAMMAR AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS AND IN ST. THOMAS WHERE HE WAS VALUE DIKTER TOIAN OF HIS CLASS.

IN 1936 HE ATTENDED HOWARD UNIVERSITY WHERE HE GRADUATED MAGNUM CUM LAUDE IN 1940.

>> HE ENJOYED IT.

THE PROBLEM WAS AT FIRST HE WAS POOR AND HE WAS ON A SCHOLARSHIP AT THE TIME.

SO I REMEMBER HIM TELLING ME YEARS LATER THAT HE HAD CH CHICKENED SO OFTEN THAT AFTER HE STARTED PRACTICING MEDICINE HE REFRAINED FROM CHICKEN, HE VOWED NEVER TO EAT CHICKEN AGAIN.

>> HE RECEIVED HIS MEDICAL AGREE WITH HONORS FROM THE HOWARD UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL IN 1944.

>> AFTER HE GRADUATED FROM MED SCHOOL HE GOT A POSITION AT THE -- AS AN INTERN IN A HOSPITAL IN NEW YORK.

>> WHILE AT A MEDICAL INTERNSHIP IN NEW YORK CITY, HE MET MARY PHYLLIS ANDERSON, A NURSE IN THE SAME HOSPITAL.

>> THINKING ALL ALONG, AS FAR AS HE WAS CONCERNED, WAS TO RETURN HOME AND PRACTICE MEDICINE HERE.

SO SHE, OF COURSE, CAME ALONG SINCE THEY HAD DECIDED TO MAKE A LIFE OF IT.

AND THEY CAME BACK TO ST. CROIX BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY WHAT HE WANTED TO DO, PRACTICE MEDICINE HERE.

>> HIS FIRST ASSIGNMENT WAS TO WORK AT FREDERICKSBURG CLINIC.

AT TOO TIME HE LIVED THERE JUST ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE DOSH THEATER AND HE WORKED DOWN THERE.

BUT VISITING QUITE A BIT.

AND LATER ON HE GOT A HOUSE UP IN PRINCESS, WHICH IS TO THE EAST OF US HERE AND HE WOULD DRIVE FROM HIS HOME TO AND WORK AS A DOCTOR.

HE WAS A FAST MOVER.

HE MOVED UP THE LADDER VERY FAST.

HE WAS VERY SHARP AND VERY KEEN.

>> BACK NO THOSE DAYS THERE WAS JUST A FEW -- MAYBE TWO OR THREE DOCTORS ON THE ENTIRE ISLAND.

SO THERE WAS A GREAT NEED FOR ANY DOCTOR.

>> WE LIVED A MILE AND A HALF FROM HERE AT THE TIME AND THE ROADS WERE DIRT ROADS.

SO WHEN EVER HE CAME AT THE TIME, A LOT OF ROADS WERE DIRT ROADS, HE WOULD COME AND IN A DISTANCE YOU WOULD SEE THIS BIG DUST STORM BEING KICKED UP.

EVERYBODY WOULD SAY, OH, DOCTOR IS COMING.

>> BASICALLY HIS FAMILY WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO HIM.

ASIDE FROM THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE, WHICH HE LOVED, OF COURSE, AND THAT'S HOW HE MADE HIS LIVING, BUT HIS FAMILY WAS ALL IMPORTANT.

SO IT WAS ALL IMPORTANT THAT WE WENT TO SCHOOL, THAT WE WERE WELL FED, WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

OF COURSE HAVING A DOCTOR IN THE FAMILY AND A MOTHER WHO WAS A NURSE, WE -- WE NEVER GOT SICK.

IF WE GOT SICK, WE WERE WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

HE USED TO TAKE US OUT TO THE BEACH WHEN WE WERE VERY YOUNG AND HE ALSO LIKED TO GO HUNTING.

>> SO HE GOES OUT TO THE FIELD WITH MY DAD AND MY DAD SEES A DEER.

NOW, WHEN YOU'RE HUNTING AT NIGHT, OF COURSE, SOME PEOPLE SAY IT'S A DISADVANTAGE BECAUSE THE DEER FREEZES UP WHEN E LIGHT GETS ON IT.

BUT ANYWAY, MY DAD SEES THE DEER AND USED TO CALL HIM DOC.

DOC, HERE'S A CHANCE.

YOU CAN SHOOT.

YOU CAN SHOOT.

SO HE GETS A GUN AND HE SHOOTS.

AND THE DEER FALLS DOWN.

MY DAD SAYS, HEY, DOC, YOU'VE DONE IT.

YOU HAVE MADE THE RITE OF PASSAGE.

AND HIS REACTION WAS A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT'S NOT ALL.

THAT'S NOT ALL.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THAT'S NOT ALL?

HE SAID, GO SEE.

SO DAD GOES OVER THERE AND SURE ENOUGH THERE'S A DEER DEAD AND 10 OR 15 FEET OVER THERE WERE ANOTHER DEER.

SO HE SHOT TWO DEER WITH ONE SHOT.

THE STORY TELLING FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

THIS WAS HIS BIG MOMENT AND HE FINALLY MADE THE RITE OF PASSAGE, HIS RITE TO FINALLY BECOME WHAT WE USED TO BE CALLED AT THE TIME A COUNTRY ROOKIE.

>> IN 1956 DR. EVANS BECAME A FELLOW IN CARDIOLOGY AT THE JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL.

HE RETURNED TO ST. CROIX IN 1957 WHERE HE WOULD GO ON TO MARRY ANDERSON.

THE COUPLE HAD FOUR CHILDREN AND EVANS MOVED ON TO BECOME COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN 1958, A POSITION HE HELD IN THE 1966 WHEN HE TOOK A LEAVE OF ABSENCE TO SECURE HIS MASTERS DEGREE IN PUBLIC HEALTH FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY.

>> WHEN HE CAME BACK HE -- ACTING COMMISSIONER DECIDED HE WANTED TO STAY AS COMMISSIONER AND THE GOVERNOR DECIDED THAT -- THE ACTING COMMISSIONER WOULD BE THE COMMISSIONER.

SO MY DAD HAD THE OPTION OF BEING A DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OR LEAVING.

>> ON AUGUST 3rd, 1968, PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON SIGNED A VIRGIN ISLANDS ELECTED GOVERNOR BILL INTO LAW, AUTHORIZING THE TERRITORY TO HOLD ITS FIRST ELECTION OF A GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ON NOVEMBER 3rd, 1970.

>> HE HAD SEEN THE EXCITEMENT.

FINALLY ACCOMPLISHED A SIGNIFICANT STEP IN OUR OWN ECONOMY, SO THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ELECT OUR OWN GOVERNOR.

>> WHEN REPUBLICAN RICHARD NIXON WAS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER OF 1968 HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE APPOINTED REPUBLICAN WITH A REPUBLICAN IN THE INTERIM.

>> DAD, BECAUSE HE HAD A FALLING OUT WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RESULTING FROM THE FACT THAT THE COMMISSIONERSHIP WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM HIM HE DECIDED TO REGISTER AS A REPUBLICAN.

THIS WAS SORT OF IN PROTEST.

SO TECHNICALLY HE WAS A REPUBLICAN ALTHOUGH NOT A VERY ACTIVE REPUBLICAN AND HE HAD NOT BEEN IN THE PARTY FOR VERY LONG.

BUHE WAS A HIGH-PROFILE FIGURE AT THE TIME AND A REPUBLICAN.

SO HE CAUGHT THE EYE OF RICHARD NIXON.

>> SO THE FAMILY, I MEAN, THIS IS LIKE A TOTAL BODY BLOW BECAUSE HERE'S THIS PERSON WHO IS NOW IN POLITICS AND HE IS, YOU KNOW, REPUBLICAN.

>> TRULY A RENAISSANCE MAN WHO HAD SO MUCH SKILLS OUTSIDE OF BEING A PHYSICIAN, BUT ONE OF THE SKILLS HE DIDN'T HAVE WAS BEING A POLITICIAN.

HE DIDN'T LIKE POLITICS.

IN FACT, HE WAS SORT OF PUSHED INTO THE POSITION OF BEING THE LAST APPOINTED GOVERNOR.

>> THE TIMING WAS SUCH THAT THE PRESIDENT NIXON WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY WHO WAS A REPUBLICAN WHO HAD SOME STATURE AND FELT THAT DAD COULD FIT THE BILL.

AT THE TIME DAD WAS SIMPLY PRACTICING MEDICINE.

HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS.

>> I DO KNOW THAT HE DID SOME SOUL SEARCHING AS TO TAKING ON THAT POSITION AS TO GETTING THAT NIXON APPOINTMENT.

THAT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT JUST WAS DONE AT A WHIM.

HE REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT IT.

>> BUT AFTER HE WAS -- AFTER HE WAS APPOINTED GOVERNOR I THINK HE TOOK THE IDEA OF POLITICS QUITE SERIOUSLY.

>> HE GOT A BIG, BIG BOOST WHEN THAT HAPPENED BECAUSE HE IS NOW THE GOVERNOR AND HE NEEDED SOMETHING THAT HE COULD DO.

AND WHEN EVANS WAS A GENIUS, YOU MIGHT SAY.

MENTALLY HE WAS VERY, VERY SMART.

AND HE DID -- I THINK HE HAD A SKILL THAT EVEN THOUGH HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A REPUBLICAN, SO-CALLED, HE WAS A DEMOCRAT, YOU KNOW?

BUT HE HAD -- HE IMPRESSED PEOPLE.

HE DIDN'T SCARE YOU, YOU KNOW?

AND HE WAS A PLEASANT, PLEASANT PERSON.

>> AT THIS POINT EVANS SEEMED TO HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH POLITICS.

QUICKLY REALIZING THAT IT WAS AN ARENA IN WHICH HE COULD BE ABLE TO HELP MANY.

>> SO TWO YEARS INTO HIS TERM, IF YOU WILL, HE RAN FOR ELECTION.

>> AND SO THE CAMPAIGNING BEGAN.

>> IT WAS A VERY UPSETTING CAMPAIGN BECAUSE YOU HAD THE THREE CANDIDATES.

REMEMBER NOW, GOVERNOR EVANS WAS THE LAST APPOINTED GOVERNOR SO HE WAS IN OFFICE WHEN THE BILL WAS PASSED.

WHILE IN OFFICE, OF COURSE HE'S GOING TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RUN AS AN ELECTED GOVERNOR.

GOVERNOR FARRELLY FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WAS A STANDARD THERE AND THE GOVERNOR CYRIL KING.

>> HE WAS A REAL FAVORITE.

REMEMBER THAT CYRIL KING SAW THE ACTING GOVERNOR ALLIANCE.

KING USED TO BE A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

SO HE WAS THE ACTING GOVERNOR AND HE WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE TO MANY PEOPLE.

>> THE COMPETITION TO SEE WHO WAS GOING TO BE THE VIRGIN ISLAND S FIRST GOVERNOR WAS FIERCE.

>> THERE WERE, IN THOSE DAYS WE HAD, I CALL THREE GIANTS GETTING READY TO RUN AGAINST EACH OTHER IF IN EFFECT, YOU MIGHT SAY WE COULD LOSE BECAUSE THESE GUYS ARE MENTAL GIANTS.

YOU HAD CYRIL SING, YOU HAD ALEX FARRELLY, YOU HAD MELVIN EVANS.

WE COULD LOSE.

SO EVERYBODY, OF COURSE, WANTED THEIR CANDIDATE TO WIN.

AND THERE HAD BEEN A STATEMENT IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SO THAT REPRESENTING THE MAIN PARTY AND CYRIL KING WAS REPRESENTING THE PARTY CREATED AFTER THE SPLIT, THE ICM, AND THAN GOVERNOR EVANS WAS REPRESENTING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> ST. CROIX DEMOCRAT WAS GLAD TO KNOW THAT ONE OF THEM, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS CARRYING THE NAME REPUBLICAN, WAS REALLY A DEMOCRAT.

SO IT WAS -- AS THEY SAY POLITICS MAKE STRANGE BED FELLOWS.

>> THE CALMMPAIGN WAS REALLY VE, VERY COMPETITIVE.

GOVERNOR KING, I THINK HE DID THE BEST CAMPAIGNING.

HE HAD HIS PITIFUL PICTURE ALL OVER THIS ISLAND.

WHEREVER YOU LOOKED, HE HAD WORKERS, YOU KNOW?

AND HE REALLY -- IF YOU JUST CAME TO ST. THOMAS AND LOOKED AROUND YOU WOULD THINK THAT KING WAS THE WINNER.

THAT'S HOW MASSIVE HIS CAMPAIGN WAS.

IN OUR PARTY GOING OUT, KING'S.

AS AN EXAMPLE OF RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PARTY AND EVERYBODY IN THE AREA, IF YOU WERE THERE, YOU HAD TO KNOW YOUR PEOPLE, ALL THE PEOPLE IN THAT AREA THAT VOTED, YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHERE THEY WORK, WHERE THEY LIVE, AND WHERE THEY VOTE BECAUSE YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FORGETTING THE VOTE OUT.

AND WE HAD TO REPORT AFTER THE ELECTION HOW MANY PEOPLE VOTED WERE YOURS.

HE WOULD SAY, FIND THEM.

THAT KIND OF INTENSITY.

>> SO ENDED UP WITH A SITUATION WHERE GOVERNOR FARRELLY -- NO, GOVERNOR KING GOT LESS THAN 51%, BUT HE WAS THE HOUSE VOTE GETTER.

>> KING RAN FIRST, EVANS SECOND, AND FARRELLY LAST.

KING RECEIVED 36% OF THE VOTES.

THIS IS SHY OF THE 50% PLUS ONE NEEDED TO WIN THE ELECTION OUTRIGHT.

THEREFORE A RUNOFF WAS NEEDED.

>> BUT THE POLITICIAN OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, YOU COULD NOT LIVE WITH GOVERNOR KING BEING GOVERNOR, AT LEAST OPERATE IN THE SENSE THAT HE WAS RUN AGAINST EVANS, DECIDED TO MAKE A POLITICAL DEAL.

>> BECAUSE ALEXANDER FARRELLY, THE DEMOCRAT, WAS ELIMINATED, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDED TO DECIDE WHO IT WAS GOING TO SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO GO BACK TO YEARS IN POT TICK POLITICS STAR THE UNITY PARTY.

HE OWNED THE "HOME JOURNAL QULT " QULT," AT THE TIME SO HE HAD PRESS WITH HIM.

THEY WORKED VERY WELL TOGETHER.

AND SO WHATEVER THEY DECIDED, IN TERMS OF LEGISLATION, THAT'S WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

IT WAS A GOOD RELATIONSHIP IN TERMS OF ATHINEL OTTLEY WANTED DECENT HOMES FOR OUR FOLK, SANITATION IMPROVED, EDUCATION IMPROVEMENTS, THAT SORT OF THING, AND THE GOVERNOR WAS RIGHT IN LINE.

EDUC EDUCATION, PUBLIC WORKS, AND ALL THE NECESSARY THINGS TO LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITY FROM -- WELL, TO A POINT WHERE IT WAS A MIDDLE CLASS SOCIETY.

AND THAT'S WHERE IT IS TODAY.

>> THROUGH HIS EFFORT, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS THEN PRODUCTION.

ALL THE HOUSING, PEOPLE GIVEN DECENT HOUSING.

THEN THEY WERE NATURALLY BEHOLDENED TO ATHINEL OTTLEY.

>> IT WAS A SCANDAL BECAUSE THE CARIBBEAN, THE WORD GOT OUT.

>> IF WE SUPPOSRT YOU, CERTAIN THINGS WE WANT AND IT COULD BE DONE.

THE FAMOUS ROOM DOWN THE CARA BEACH HOTEL IS WHERE THE MEETING TOOK PLACE.

AND THE AGREEMENT WAS MADE THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MEMBERS WOULD SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, GOVERNOR EVANS IN THE RUNOFF ELECTION.

>> IT WAS THE OTTLEY AXIS THAT CREATED RIGHT IN THE IDEA IN THE MIND OF PEOPLE IF CYRIL KING WOULD HAVE WON YOU WOULD HAVE LOST YOUR JOB, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN BACK IN THE CANE FIELDS CUTTING CANE, YOU COULD BE ABLE TO -- ALL OF THE THINGS -- ALL OF THE -- AND THEY WERE PRETTY SMALL AT THE TIME, BUT WHATEVER YOU HAD, A GOVERNMENT JOB AS A TEACHER PAID $9,000 A YEAR, WHICH REALLY IS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

BUT WHATEVER YOU HAD, THEY SAID CYRIL KING IS GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY AND HE'S GOING TO GO AND COME TO THE OFFICES WHERE YOU WORK AND HE'S JUST GOING TO SEND YOU HOME.

>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF ALL THE PEOPLE SAID, NO, THEY'RE GOING WITH EVANS.

AND THEY STARTED THIS CHANT, THANK HEAVENS FOR EVANS.

>> OF COURSE, THERE WAS A CALYPSO, I DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT, DON'T LET HIM WIN, STOP CYRIL KING.

IF HE WHIPINS HE WILL SPOIL EVERYTHING.

>> HE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR EVANS TO BE THE GOVERNOR BY GETTING ON THE RADIO AND SAYING, VOTE FOR MELVIN H. EVANS AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPEND IT ON IT.

>> BUT THAT WAS THE DEAL, TO SUPPORT EVANS AND EVANS WON.

>> NOW ALL THAT WAS LEFT TO DO WAS PLAN THE INAUGURATION.

>> THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT OF EXCITEMENT.

IT WAS HISTORICAL IN THE SENSE THAT GOVERNOR EVANS WAS THE FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR.

AND THE POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCES WERE ALL THERE.

I MEAN, CELEBRATION OF HIM BECOMING THE FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR.

AND IT WAS EXCITING.

OF COURSE THERE WERE SOME -- SOME MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO WERE DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE IT WAS A REALLY HOTLY CONTESTED ELECTION.

>> IN 1970 THE VIRGIN ISLANDS LEGISLATURE COMMEMORATED THE OCCASION BY COMMISSIONING THE OFFICIAL SYMBOL OF THE VIRGIN Y ISLANDS OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.

THE THIMBLE, RIBBON AND GOLD, ALL THE NATIONS THAT REINED OVER THE TERRITORY.

IT IS A SYMBOL STILL WORN BY GOVERNORS TODAY.

THE SYMBOL WAS CREATED BY EVANS.

ON THAT FIRST INAUGURATION DAY AS EVANS WAS SWORN IN BY U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE THOROUGH GOOD MARSHALL, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE TERRITORY FINALLY HAD CONTROL OVER ITS FUTURE.

>> WELL, THERE WAS A LOT OF JUBILATION BECAUSE WE STILL ACCOMPLISHED OUR GOAL, OUR RIGHT TO ELECT OUR OWN GOVERNOR.

HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE YOUR OWN MISTAKES.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

BUT LIKE I SAID, WE HAD THREE MENTAL GIANTS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND COULD LOSE, REALLY.

AND EVANS PROVED THAT WITH HIS SERVICE.

>> UPON BEING ELECTED ONE OF EVANS' FIRST PRIORITIES WAS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF EVERYDAY VIRGIN ISLANDERS, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF A MIDDLE CLASS WITH NEW INFRASTRUCTURE FROM ROADS TO SCHOOLS.

>> WHAT IMPRESSED ME WITH EVANS IS HE GOT A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE NATIONAL REPUBLICANS.

THE CONGRESS HELPED HIM A LOT FINANCIALLY.

GET A LOT OF FUNDING THAT BEGAN TO BUILD -- A LOT OF LIGHTS FOR THE ROADS, BEGINNING TO FIX THE ROADS, BEGINNING TO BUILD ROADS.

ALL THAT CAME ABOUT UNDER EVANS.

>> EDUCATION AND HOUSING WAS HIS PLATFORMS.

HE REALLY WORKED HARD FOR THAT, INCLUDING ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO IN TERMS OF HELP, THERE WAS A VERY LARGE SANITATION DEPARTMENT, AND THE GUY USED TO COME AROUND IN THE EVENING IN THE STREETS AND THEY WOULD ANNOUNCE WHEN THEY WOULD BE COMING AROUND IN YOUR AREA.

AND YOU WOULD CLOSE THE WINDOWS AND FOG THE STREETS AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THE KIDS WOULD RUN OUT BEHIND IT, SCREAMING, DON'T GO THERE, DON'T GO THERE.

>> HE SOUGHT MILLIONS OF INTEGRATING IMMIGRANT WORKERS QUICKLY TO ACCOMMODATE THE FAST GROWING INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ISLANDS.

>> EVANS SAW THAT THE TERRITORY COULD INDUSTRIALIZE AND BRANCH OUT INTO WATCH AND DRUG MF MANUFACTURING, AMONG OTHERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POSITION OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES CUSTOMS ZONE.

HE SAW INDUSTRIALIZATION AS A WAY OF OFFERING INCENTIVES AND PUSHING PEOPLE TO WORK.

>> WHEN PEOPLE CAME FROM PUERTO RICO THEY HAD NO SKILLS BASICALLY.

THEIR FATHERS MIGHT HAVE CUT CANE BUT THEY NEEDED WORK.

THEY HAD AN EDUCATION, THEY COULD SPEAK ENGLISH, BUT THEY FOUND A GREAT PLACE ASSEMBLING WATCHES AND MAKING GREAT PAY AND A GOOD WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

TEN DIFFERENT WATCH MANUFACTURING PLANTS HERE THAT STARTED DURING EVANS' ADMINISTRATION.

HE JUST KEPT BUILDING ON IT AND BUILDING ON IT.

AND NOTICING THAT THE IN INFRASTRUCTURE WAS NECESSARY AND EXPENSIVE POWER IS NECESSARY, GOOD COMMUNICATIONS.

PRIOR TO EVANS THE TELEPHONE COMPANY, WHICH WAS OWNED BY THE V.I.

GOVERNMENT.

AND YOU COULD CALL MABEL AND WAIT FOR TWO HOURS TO GET A CIRCUIT TO CALL NEW YORK, BUT WITH THE WORK THAT MANY PEOPLE DID BY TELCO BECAME A MAJOR INDUSTRY BUILDER OF AN INFRASTRUCTURE OF COMMUNICATIONS.

>> FIRST THE HISPANICS, THE PUERTO RICOS CAME.

SOME OF THEM CAME AS ENTREPRENEURS.

MY FATHER WAS WITHIN OF THEM.

MY UNCLE RRALREADY ONE OF THEM.

THEY CAME AS ENTREPRENEURS.

BUT A LOT OF THE MAJORITY OF THEM CAME TO WORK IN THE FACTORY IN BETHLEHEM, THE SUGAR CANE FACTORY.

THEY CAME AND CUT CANE.

THEN THEY ESTABLISHED A LIFE FOR THEMSELVES.

AND THEN WE STARTED IMPORTING THE PEOPLE FROM THE DIFFERENT CARIBBEAN ISLANDS.

>> IT USED TO BE A GUEST WORKER PROGRAM.

I THINK IT STARTED OUT AS GUEST WORKER.

YOU'RE COMING FOR A CERTAIN LENGTH OF TIME.

YOU'RE PROBABLY COMING TO FINISH THAT CROP AND THEN YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE ISLANDS.

THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY, INSTEAD OF GOING BACK, THEY GOT PEOPLE WHO -- CITIZENS, PEOPLE WITH THE BUSINESSES TO, YOU KNOW, SPONSOR THEM OR, YOU KNOW, THEY HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORKED AS MAIDS IN THE HOMES.

SO THE PROGRAM BECAME BIGGER AND BIG IR BIGGER BECAUSE OF THAT.

MORE PEOPLE WOULD COME IN AS AN EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY THEY BRING IN MAYBE A COUPLE HUNDRED TO THIS CROP, MAYBE 50 OR 100, 50% OF THOSE PEOPLE WOULD GO BACK, 50% WOULD REMAIN HERE.

FROM TIME TO TIME IT STARTED TO BUILD UP.

AND THEN WE HAD A HUGE -- A HUGE MIGRATION, PEOPLE FROM THE DIFFERENT ISLANDS.

>> THEY HAD COME IN TO HELP WITH THE CANE.

MANY OF THEM HAD OVERSTAYED.

AND THEN EVENTUALLY SOME OF THEM BROUGHT THEIR WIVES AND THEN WE DECIDED WE NEEDED HELPERS, SO WE BONDED AND WE BECAME MIDDLE CLASS, SO TO SPEAK.

BUT THEN THEY THEN GOT CHILDREN OR BROUGHT IN THEIR CHILDREN AND THEN IT WAS QUITE AN EXPLOSION IN TERMS OF, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY, THERE WAS A STRAIN ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE ISLAND WAS NOT REALLY READY FOR THAT IMMEDIATE EXPLOSION IN TERMS OF POPULATION.

>> UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE SOCIAL DEMANDS OF THE FAST GROWING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNOR'S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION REFUSED TO ADMIT STUDENTS THAT WERE CHILDREN OF, QUOTE, ALIENS, UNQUOTE.

THIS BROUGHT ABOUT THE CASE OF HOSIER VERSUS EVANS.

>> WITH THE MIGRATION, A LOT OF THE PEOPLE FROM THE ISLAND, OF COURSE, YOU'RE GOING TO BRING YOUR CHILDREN IN.

SO WE HAD A LOT OF CHILDREN WHO WEREN'T ALLOWED AN EDUCATION.

I THINK SOMEBODY TOOK THE MATTER TO THE COURTS.

>> THEN A LANDMARK COURT DECISION WAS REACHED BY JUDGE CHRISTIAN WHICH ALLOWED IMMIGRANT STUDENTS FROM THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN TO ATTEND VIRGIN ISLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

REJECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S ARGUMENT FOR NOT ALLOWING THEM ADMISSION BECAUSE OF LACK OF FUNDING.

>> JUDGE MARY CHRISTIAN RULED IN THEIR FAVOR.

AND WE COULDN'T DENY IT TO THEM.

SO EVANS IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TRYING TO GET FEDERAL FUNDS AND EVERYTHING TO HAVE SCHOOLS TO ACCOMMODATE THE STUDENTS BECAUSE NOW YOU'VE GOT A THOUSAND MORE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL.

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT EQUIPPED.

YOU NEED TEACHERS.

AND HE SAID, IN HIS OPINION, THAT IS IT BECAUSE OF THE COST?

THEN WE'VE GOT TO RAISE THE MONEY.

SEE?

YOU'VE GOT TO RAISE TAXES, WE'VE GOT TO GET FEDERAL FUNDS, WHATEVER.

>> ALL OF A SUDDEN HE HAD TO GO OUT AND FIND BUILDERS THAT WERE WILLING TO DO MAJOR CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOLS.

>> NEW SCHOOLS WERE BEING BUILT AND CHILDREN WERE ATTENDING CLASSES BUT THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE I'LL GRANTS AND LOCALS WAS ON SHAKY GROUND.

>> WE GOT THE FUND AND EVEN THOUGH TECHNICALLY THAT WAS PEOPLE FROM ANTIGUA.

>> IN FEBRUARY 1971 THE BODY OF 8-YEAR-OLD ANNA MARIA FELIX OF ST. CROIX WAS FOUND NEAR THE PARK RACETRACK BY INVESTIGATORS WHO HAD BEEN SEARCHING THE AREA FOR THE MISSING GIRL FOR SEVERAL DAYS.

SHE WAS RAPED AND MURDERED.

>> I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT HAPPENED, BUT PEOPLE SAID THAT SOMEONE WAS ARRESTED FROM THE CARIBBEAN ISLAND, A PERSON WAS FRAMED.

AND THAT WAS BIG ISSUE HERE.

>> CHARGE WITH THE CRIME WERE 29-YEAR-OLD GILEAD MATTI, IN, 22-YEAR-OLD GILBERT SAMSON, BOTH OF ST. LUCIA.

AND STEELE, 27-YEAR-OLD FROM ANTIGUA, CHANGING THE TONE OF THE INTEGRATION OF THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN THE TERRITORY.

>> PEOPLE WERE FRIGHTENED BECAUSE THE CHARACTERIZATION OF PEOPLE FROM OTHER ISLANDS NOT AS PEOPLE COMING HERE TO BUILD THEIR LIVES BUT AS MURDERERS AND RAPISTS AND MOLESTERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT WAS WIDE SPREAD ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.

AND PEOPLE CAME HERE FROM THE STATES AND THEY WENT INTO HOMES AND THEY KNOCK -- I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OR NOT BUT THEY PICKED PEOPLE UP AND SHIPPED THEM OFF.

AND THAT REALLY WAS -- YOU KNOW WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT ST. CROIX HAS A GREAT PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE, EVERYBODY HERE HAS SOME RELATIVE, I WOULD SAY, IN SOME OF THE OTHER ISLANDS.

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

EITHER, YOU KNOW, BY MARRIAGE, BY CHILDHOOD, BY SOMETHING.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE FROM ANTIGUA, THAT GOES ALL OF THE WAY DOWN TO TRINIDAD AND CARACAO.

THEY CAME UP WITH THEIR TRADING SKILLS TO BE ABLE TO DO THE KIND OF WORK THAT WASN'T READILY AVAILABLE HERE AT THE TIME.

>> THE GOVERNOR ALWAYS HAD A NEGATIVE VIEW TOWARD OUTSIDERS, ALWAYS.

>> I REMEMBER THERE WAS A ROUND-UP OF PEOPLE FROM THE CARIBBEAN, PEOPLE WERE ALWAYS STAYING.

THE GOVERNMENT FELT THAT THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHOMP WER JUST HERE -- TOO MANY PEOPLE HERE ILLEGALLY.

THERE WAS A ROUND-UP.

I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT GOT STARTED.

SOME PEOPLE SAY THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED TO THE FEDS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY DO A CLEAN-UP.

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT ALTHOUGH WE WERE HANDLING A LOT OF PROGRAMS FOR ALIENS, WE WERE NEVER INFORMED AS TO WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT THERE WAS A BIG ROUND-UP, IMMIGRATION GOING FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, YOU KNOW, INTERVIEWING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TAKING THEM M AND LOCKING THEM UP IF THEY ARE NOT HERE LEGALLY UNTIL THERE CAN BE A HEARING.

AND MOST OF THEM WERE DEPORTED.

SOME WERE ALLOWED TO REMAIN BASED ON THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> GOVERNOR EVANS HAD A LOT OF FORESIGHT.

HE SAW THAT THE INJECTION OF THE POPULATION OF THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN INTO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WAS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN TO US.

THEY BROUGHT ALL THE TRADES, SKILL, AND KNOW-HOW THAT WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE TO FULFILL.

WE WERE IN THE BUILDING BOOM.

AND WE NEEDED PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

AND THEY INFLUENCED OUR ECONOMY, OUR SOCIAL LIVES.

AND WE HAVE PROSPERED BECAUSE THEY WERE HERE.

OF COURSE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WAS NOT INCLINED TO SEE THAT.

THAT'S WHY WE HAD THAT HORRIBLE ROUND-UP IN THAT SITUATION.

AND PERSONALLY, I CAN TELL YOU, HE DID NOT LIKE THAT, FOR SEVERAL REASONS.

ONE, HE FELT THAT WE WERE ALL EASTERN CARIBBEAN PEOPLE.

I COULD SAY HE WAS QUITE A HUMANITARIAN.

HE TRIED TO DO AS MUCH AS HE COULD TO EASE THE SITUATION, BUT WE HAD SOME ELEMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT, YOU KNOW, WERE HOSTILE.

>> IF YOU HAVE A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN HERE, YOU KNOW, THEY WILL BE CHARGED.

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY SAY, COME IN, ALL OVER.

GET AWAY.

>> I REMEMBER TALKING TO A COUPLE AND THEY WERE SORT OF SCARED.

AND THEY WERE AT THE TIME, THEY WERE BONDED.

AGAIN, IMMIGRATION USED TO OPERATE BASED ON WHAT SOME OF THE PEOPLE WOULD TELL THEM.

CHECK THAT HOUSE OUT.

I DON'T THINK THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE LEGALLY.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S HOW THEY OPERATED.

>> AND THEN THEY WOULD GRAB THEM, ROUND THEM UP, AND THEN I BEGAN FALLING BECAUSE WE CALLED IT ALIEN MOVEMENT AND WHOEVER GOT ARRESTED, HE BRING TO THE OFFICE.

AND FILE A PETITION.

NO, THE IMMIGRATION LAW HAD A PROVISION THAT SAYS IF YOU'RE IN THIS ISLAND ILLEGALLY FOR FIVE YEARS AND YOU COULD PROVE YOU WERE HERE FOR FIVE YEARS AND YOU NEVER GET IN ANY TROUBLE WITH THE LAW, RIGHT?

YOU COULD TRY TO GET PERMANENT RESIDENCE.

WE HAD TO GET AFFIDAVITS THAT WE WERE HERE, WORKING WITH THEM.

YOU HAD TO GO TO THE POLICE STATION, GET AFFIDAVIT THAT YOU HAVE NOT COMMITTED NO CRIMES, YOU KNOW?

WHEN YOU STARTED FILING FOR THIS, IMAGINE IT.

REMEMBER, WE WERE POOR.

A MAN GOT ARRESTED, SEE MY ATTORNEY.

>> BUT THESE NEW RULES WERE PALE IN COMPARISON TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT.

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 1972, A GROUP OF FIVE MEN WEARING MASKS AND ARMY FATIGUES ENTERED THE CLUBHOUSE OF THE FOUNTAIN VALLEY GOLF COURSE IN ST. CROIX.

THE GOLF COURSE THAT WAS OWNED BY THE ROCKEFELLER FAMILY.

THE MEN HELD UP A GROUP OF 16 PEOPLE, INCLUDING STAFF AND GUESTS.

AND ORDERED THEM TO GET ON THE FLOOR.

THE MEN, ARMED WITH A VARIETY OF WEAPONS INCLUDING MACHINE GUNS, OPENED FIRE ON THE GROUP.

WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS, EIGHT WERE DEAD AND EIGHT MORE WERE EITHER SHOT OR WOUNDED.

>> PEOPLE THOUGHT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, YES, IN THE CARIBBEAN.

SAFEST PLACE YOU COULD GO.

NO ONE EVER WOULD HAVE DREAMED OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LOCAL, ROBBERY, AT THIS POINT, THE KILLING OF SO MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT'S UNNECESSARY.

>> IT WAS ALLEGED THAT THEY WERE AUTOMATIC ALL WHITE PEOPLE, WHICH IS NOT TRUE.

IT WAS ALLEGED THAT IT WAS TOURIST, WHICH WAS NOT TRUE.

IT WAS ALLEGED THAT IT WAS TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS NOT TRUE.

A LOT OF THIS GOT STARTED OVER IN ST. CROIX, PEOPLE WALKING DOWN THE STREET WITH WMACHETES AND THEY WERE OVERTHROWING THE GOVERNMENT AND OVERREACTING.

RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS WENT OUT THEY WERE OVERTHROWING THE GOVERNMENT.

THERE WERE NOT EIGHT TOURISTS KILLED.

I THINK FOUR OF THEM WERE PEOPLE ON THE EASTERN AIRLINES CREW WHO WERE ON TURN AROUND AND THREE OF THEM WORKED AT FOUNTAIN VALLEY FOR A LONG TIME, YEARS, THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

AND THE ONE BLACK WHO WAS KILLED WAS KILLED ON THE TELEGRAPH POLE, EITHER CABLE TV OR OTHER TELEVISION, OTHER COMMUNICATION PERSON ON THAT POLE.

ARTHUR FRANCIS, WE WERE FRIENDS, AND HE WAS AFRAID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE EIGHT BLACK/WHITE ISSUE.

AND HE DIDN'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

HE THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO SEND ALL WHITE DEPUTIES DOWN HERE AND HE WAS TAKING THE PRISONERS IN AND ONE OF THEM HIT HIM IN THE STOMACH.

HE CALLED ME UP PERSONALLY AND TOLD ME, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAID TO THESE PEOPLE.

I'M A VIRGIN ISLANDER, I DON'T WANT THESE PEOPLE MISTREATED.

I KNOW YOU WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

COME DOWN HERE AND HELP ME SET THIS THING UP.

I VOLUNTEERLY CAME DOWN.

I LOGISTICALLY FIGURED OUT THE MANPOWER, WHAT THE NEEDS WE NEEDED AND HOW WE HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE IT WAS SORT OF A SUPER SITUATION FOR BLACKS IN OUR TIME BECAUSE WE HAD NEVER BEEN IN CHARGE OF ANYTHING IN THE MARSHALL SERVICE AND THEY WERE PUT PART-TIME EMPLOYEES IN CHARGE OF US.

I WANTED TO COORDINATE THIS THING WITH THE GOVERNOR BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT HIM TO THINK THAT I WAS DOWN HERE TO MISTREAT PEOPLE.

AND ASSAL ALLEGED OFTEN ABILITYW YOU MISTREAT PEOPLE AND I DON'T WANT NO PEOPLE MISTREATED.

WE TRIED TO CONTACT HIM, TRIED TO SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH HIM.

WE COULDN'T MAKE CONTACT WITH GOVERNOR EVANS.

HE WOULDN'T SEE US.

>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT WAS A LACK OF COMMUNICATION.

I THINK IT WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING OR A NOT UNDERSTANDING THE WHOLE THING.

.

AND ONE THING ABOUT GOVERNOR EVANS, HE LIKED TO BE SURE ABOUT EVERYTHING HE SAID, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WOULD BE ON SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS TO THAT.

ALL OF THE FACTS WERE NOT IN.

AND THE FACTS WEREN'T IN FOR A LONG, LONG TIME ABOUT FOUNTAIN VALLEY.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, AS YOU KNOW, HAD SEVERAL DIFFERENT RAMIFICATIONS TO IT.

THE ROBBERY GONE BAD ASPECT.

THE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT ASPECT, WHICH WAS NEVER REALLY PROVED.

AND I DON'T THINK HE WANTED TO ALARM PEOPLE OR PUT PEOPLE INTO A SITUATION OF A FRENZY OR SOMETHING THAT JUST WASN'T THERE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE WAS NO GROUND SWELL MOVEMENT TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT.

NOTHING LIKE THAT.

I THINK ALL THOSE THEORIES HAVE BEEN PUT TO REST.

IT WAS JUST A BAD ACT THAT WE SUFFERED FROM FOR MANY YEARS.

>> WE WERE NOT AS A TERRITORY, WE WERE NOT CAPABLE OF HANDLING ANYTHING OF THAT MAGNITUDE.

AND IT WAS THE FIRST, YOU KNOW, FOR US, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, WE DEPENDED ON TOURISM AND WE KNEW WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AND WE SAW WHAT IT COST IN TERMS OF THE EXPLOSION.

BUT I THINK IN RETROSPECT HAD HE DONE IT THAT WAY WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BEEN ABLE TO GET SUPPORT AND THE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT ON -- OF THE GOVERNMENT.

>> HE WAS HURT ABOUT THE WHOLE THING AND PERPLEXED ABOUT THE WHOLE THING.

IT WAS A SAD CHAPTER, VERY SAD CHAPTER.

>> FOUNTAIN VALLEY ALSO FOREVER CHANGED THE ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE OF ST. CROIX AS NEWS OF THE MASSACRE FLOODED THE NATIONAL MEDIA WITH EVEN WALTER CRONKITE SAYING THAT THE TERRITORY WAS NO MORE THE WELCOMING AND TRANQUIL PLACE THOUGHT OF IN THE PAST.

>> DID THIS CAUSE HAVOC HERE IN THE TERRITORY, FROM, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW.

AND ST. CROIX REGRETTED THAT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND STILL SURFS FROM IT AS A RESULT OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY.

>> EVANS ALSO FACED CONTENTION WITHIN HIS OWN CABINET WHICH CAME TO A HEAD IN 1973 WITH A RESIGNATION OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DAVID E. MOSS.

>> WHAT CONFLICTS HE MIGHT HAVE HAD WITH EVANS, I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE, THAT LET HIM QUIT AND EVANS HAD TO SEEK A NEW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> SOME OF THE THINGS WERE, EVERY TIME THE GOVERNOR WOULD LEAVE THE ISLAND THE GOVERNOR WOULD LEAVE A NUMBER OF THINGS TO BE DONE, BY PUBLIC WORKS AND VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.

THEY WOULD JUST REVERSE ALL THOSE THINGS.

WELL, THE GOVERNOR WAS OFF ISLAND.

IT PERSISTED FOR SOME TIME APPARENTLY, TO A POINT WHERE THEY KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR COULD NOT TOLERATE THAT.

>> SO WHAT DOES MELVIN EVANS DO?

A STROKE OF GENIUS.

THAT ELECTION, THE HIGHEST VOTE GETTER IN THE HISTORY ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WAS ADDIE OTTLEY, FROM THE OTTLEY POLITICAL DIE NASTY.

ADDIE OTTLEY WAS THE PRIZING POLITICAL STAR AT THE TIME.

SO WHAT DOES EVANS DO?

YOU ARE GOING TO BE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TO REPLACE DAVID MOSS.

>> WAS THEY EXPLAINED THAT TO ME, I SIDE, THE FIRST ELECTED GOVERNOR HAVING TO RUN INTO THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS, I THOUGHT I WOULD CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, THAT SITUATION.

I WAS NOT INTO THE POLITICS, THE RAMIFICATION AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF.

I RAN INTO A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECAUSE ONCE I WAS ASKED ABOUT IT, I CONSULTED WITH THE LEADERSHIP.

OFF THE RECORD, SOME SAID, YOU KNOW, GO AHEAD, BUT ON THE RECORD, DON'T DO IT.

>> OTTLEY AT FIRST WAS REJECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

>> TO MOVE FROM THE SENATE TO AN APPOINTED POSITION IT WOULD HAVE TO BE RATIFIED BY THE LEGISLATURE.

WE WENT THROUGH THAT PROCESS WHERE THE NAME WAS SENT DOWN AND THE VOTE WAS TAKEN AND WE CAME UP SHORT.

I THINK ONE VOTE SHORT FROM HAVING THE OKAY OF THE SENATE.

IT'S VERY FUNNY HOW WHEN I WENT TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE I SAID, LISTEN, I DON'T NEED THESE PROBLEMS, YOU KNOW, WITH -- THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE PARTY IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORT AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

AND I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.

CAN YOU FIND SOMEBODY ELSE?

THE GOVERNOR SAID, NO, AS LONG AS YOU'RE WILLING, WE WILL WORK IT OUT.

>> EVANS, DISSATISFIED WITH THE REJECTION OF OTTLEY, ONCE AGAIN SUBMITTED HIS NAME.

>> SENATOR MALLOY WAS PRESENT IN THE LEGISLATURE AT THE TIME AND WE FIGURED OUT A WAY IN ORDER TO GET THE ONE VOTE YOU NEED SOMEBODY ABSENT FROM THE LA LEGISLATIVE BODY AT THE TIME THEY WERE IN SESSION.

IT WORKED OUT WHERE SENATOR ERIC DAWSON WHO WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE TOURISM COMMITTEE, COMMERCE COMMITTEE, IT WAS ARRANGED FOR HIM TO GO TO NEW YORK FOR A MEETING AT THE DAY THAT WE WERE PLANNING FOR THE NEXT VOTE.

AND THAT WAS ARRANGED AND ERIC GLADLY WENT ABOUT HIS BUSINESS.

THE SESSION WAS CALLED.

>> THIS TIME ON A VOTE OF 7-6 OTTLEY WAS NOMINATED TO REPLACE MASS.

>> SOMETHING TO BEHOLD, WHICH WE ALL REMEMBER VERY, VERY WELL, AS TO HOW IT ALL CAME ABOUT.

IT'S ALL PART OF VIRGIN ISLANDS POLITICS, I GUESS.

>> LATER ON HE HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HE WENT TO THE GUYS THAT SUPPORTED HIM TO ASK FOR A RECOMMENDATION.

THEY RECOMMENDED ME TO HIM.

AND TO MY SURPRISE HE ASKED ME TO TAKE THE POSITION OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL.

PRIOR TO THAT HE HAD SOME CHANGES HE WAS MAKING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THEY ASKED ME ABOUT IT, I TELL THEM, NO, I'M NOT A POLICE MAN, I'M NOT A FIREMAN.

BUT THEN HE OFFERED ME THE POSITION AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, I ACCEPTED IT.

AND WORKED VERY WELL WITH HIM, YOU KNOW?

AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES THE WAY HE HANDLED HIMSELF, EVEN THOUGH A LOT OF PRESSURE WAS ON HIM, HE HANDLED IT SO COOLEY.

I REMEMBER ONE TIME, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MADE A SPEECH.

VERY UPSET AT THE FACT THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY, ESTABLISHED SCHOOLS IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

AND THEN NOT ONLY ESTABLISH THE SCHOOLS, THEY WOULD THEN GO INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND RECRUIT THE TALENT FROM THE PUBLIC SCHOOL, OFFERING THEM SCHOLARSHIPS, YOU KNOW?

AND THEN WHAT WE GOT TO DO?

WHOEVER COULDN'T GET A LOAN FOR SCHOOL, HAD TO TAKE HIM.

YOU KNOW?

SO TO ME IT WAS NOT FAIR TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, MY DAUGHTERS, BE.

TEACHERS.

PRIVATE SCHOOL MATERIAL.

THAT'S AN INSULT.

EDUCATION MORE THAN ANYTHING.

GAVE A SPEECH AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND TELL THE MEMBERS IT'S NOT RIGHT.

AND SEEK THE WHITES AND CANDIDATE.

I SPOKE OF ALL THOSE THINGS AND IT WENT IN AN UPROAR AND ALL OF THEM WANTED ME TO BE FIRED.

AND THE WAY EVANS HANDLED IT, HE SAID, NOTHING YOU HAVE SAID THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THAT IS NOT TRUE.

GO WITH ME.

SET HIM UP.

YOU KNOW?

BUT EVANS, ALTHOUGH UNDER PRESSURE, HE HANDLED IT PRETTY COOL.

>> FURTHER, THE EVANS ADMINISTRATION TOOK THE BLAME FOR THE RECESSION OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WAS UNDERGOING.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES WAS ALSO UNDERGOING A RECESSION.

HIS ADMINISTRATION WAS ALSO BLAMED FOR THE OVERCROWDING IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHICH RESULTED IN DOUBLE SESSIONS.

THE POOR QUALITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, THE STRAIN ON THE ECONOMY, AND THE SOCIAL UNREST.

>> THE RE-ELECTION, I THOUGHT THAT HE WOULD HAVE A CHANCE IN THE RE-ELECTION BECAUSE, REMHE WOULD BE THE ODD MAN OUT BEFORE THE RUNOFF.

BUT IN THIS ELECTION, THE '70 ELECTION NOW, HE HAD DONE FWHEL OFFICE, YOU KNOW.

HE HAD DONE A GOOD JOB IN OFFICE.

AND NOW HE WOULD BE MUCH BETTER KNOWN AND EVERYTHING.

AND HE WAS WELL-KNOWN BEFORE THE DOCTOR, YOU KNOW?

AND NOW HE'S WELL-KNOWN AS A GOVERNOR.

HE HAD NO EXPERIENCED MIN STRAIGHTIVELY AND HE WORKED WELL, I THINK, WITH THE REPU REPUBLICANS.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> WHEN CYRIL KING WON, HE WON BY A LANDSLIDE.

HE CAME IN WITH A LANDSLIDE A AND -- THE THING THAT ALLOWED KING TO WIN WAS THE LATINO VOTES THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY VOTED FOR EVANS.

HE WAS ABLE TO GET LATINO VOTES, OR THE PORTICO PUERTO RICAN VOTES.

>> THE PEOPLE GOT SO -- WITH GOVERNOR CYRIL KING AND WITH LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR LUIS.

ESPECIALLY FOR ME BECAUSE I'M A PERSON AND WILL SUPPORT YOU, I WILL SUPPORT YOU UNTIL THE END.

BUT I WAS KIND OF -- I KNEW OTTLEY VERY CLOSE.

WE GREW UP TOGETHER.

AND I WAS PUT TOGETHER A WALL AND A HARD ROCK, YOU KNOW.

AND I THINK, OH, MY GOD.

BUT DEEP DOWN I KNEW THAT CYRIL KING AND JUAN LUIS WERE GOING TO WIN THE ELECTION BECAUSE GOVERNOR EVANS WAS THE END DIDN'T HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT HE HAD WHEN HE WAS FIRST ELECTED.

>> EVANS, I THINK HE WAS HURT.

I THINK HE WAS VERY HURT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T THINK THAT THE WORK HE HAD DONE WAS REALLY APPRECIATED, YOU KNOW?

BUT HE WAS UP AGAINST SOME REAL TOUGH FELLOWS IN OTTLEY AND KING.

AND WHEN YOU ARE OUT OF OFFICE YOU CAN CRITICIZE ALL YOU WANT.

>> UNSUCCESSFUL IN HIS SECOND BID FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP, THE LOSS DIDN'T KEEP EVANS DOWN.

IN NOVEMBER 1978 HE WAS ELECT WE AS A TERRITORIES DELEGATE TO CONGRESS BEATING OUT IN A STUNNING VICTORY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE JANET WATTINGTON, AN AIDE TO OUTGOING DE LUGO WHO LEFT HIS POST TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

>> I HAD HEARD OF HIM.

BUT TO BE VERY HONEST WITH YOU, WHEN I FOUND OUT HE WAS A REPUBLICAN I MADE UP MY MIND THAT I WASN'T GOING TO LIKE HIM TOO MUCH.

FORTUNATELY FOR BOTH OF US, I WAS TERRIBLY WRONG AND HE TURNED OUT TO BE A FINE GENTLEMAN.

AND HE BROKE THE MOLD IN WHAT REPUBLICANS WOULD BE, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I DIDN'T KNOW THEY HAD ANY.

>> HE BECAME THE TERRITORY'S FIRST BLACK DELEGATE G TO CONGRESS.

SO IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE, ARMED SERVICES, INTERIOR AND ANCILLARY AFFAIR, MERCHANT MARINE, AND FISHERIES COMMITTEE.

>> HE WAS ON ONE OF THE COMMITTEES THAT DEALT A LOT WITH SOCIAL ISSUES.

AND HE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY PUSH THE REPUBLICANS TO, YOU KNOW, TO BE A LOT MORE LIBERAL WHEN IT CAME TO SOCIAL PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, A LOT MORE LIBERAL WHEN IT CAME TO TERRITORIES, AND THE RIGHT TO VOTE AND ALL THAT OTHER STUFF.

SO THINGS YOU HEAR NOW, HE WAS PUSHING THEM WAY BACK IN THE DAY.

M AND, YOU KNOW, STILL AN UP HILL BATTLE ABOUT VOTE FOR PRESIDENT, VARIOUS SOCIAL PROGRAMS, STILL CAN'T GET STATE TREATMENT BUT THE STRUGGLE GOES ON.

>> WE USED TO TRAL TOGVEL TOGET.

WE USED TO WORK TOGETHER.

WE USED TO ARGUE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY HE WAS JUST ANOTHER MEMBER OF CONGRESS REPRESENTING THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

SO THAT'S HOW MEL WAS LIKED BY OH - - HE SAT WITH THE REPUBLICANS.

BUT ANY TIME HE WANTED TO TALK, IT WAS NOT A -- IT WAS NOT NEWSWORTHY THAT HE WOULD COME AND SIT WITH US.

>> EVANS HELD THIS CAPACITY UNTIL 1981.

BUT WAS, AGAIN, UNSUCCESSFUL IN HIS SECOND BID FOR THE SEAT.

IN A CLOSE CONTEST, EVANS LOST TO RON DE LUGO WHO HAD RETURNED TO SEEK HIS OLD SEAT AFTER FAILING TO WIN HIS BID FOR GOVERNOR.

THE U.S. HOUSE PAID TRIBUTE TO EVANS FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AND HAILED HIS COMMITMENT TO THE TERRITORY.

IN 1981 PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN NOMINATED EVANS AS UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

ON THE MORNING OF NOVEMBER 27, 1984, EVANS DIED OF A HEART ATTACK IN CHRISTIANSTED.

EVANS WAS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, THE FORMER PHYLLIS ANDERSON, AND THEIR FOUR SONS, WILLIAM K.C., MELVIN JR., ROBERT, AND COR CORNEAL CORNEALUISD.

>> HIS PASSING WAS VERY SUDDEN.

WHEN I GOT THE CALL THAT HE HAD PASSED IN TRINIDAD, I WAS VERY UPSET.

BECAUSE I FELT THAT MAYBE IF HE HAD DONE A LITTLE MORE FOR HIMSELF HE WOULD HAVE LIVED LONGER.

>> HE SET A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE GOVERNING OF THESE ISLANDS.

BASED ON HIS INTEGRITY WHEN HE WAS IN OFFICE.

AND THE FACT THAT HE LATER ON WAS ALSO A DELEGATE TO CONGRESS AND FINALLY THE AMBASSADOR, AMBASSADOR TO TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, PUT A ROUNDING OFF THINGS.

HE HAD SO MANY THINGS THAT HE CAN LOOK BACK ON AND SAY, I ENJOYED DOING THAT.

>> I'VE VAEVANS WAS A VISIONARY.

HE THOUGHT FOR THE FUTURE.

HE WASN'T A CRAFTY POLITICIAN WHO COULD ON THE CHEAP BUY VOTES.

HE WANTED TO PUT SOME INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE HERE AND THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT HE DID.

>> MELVIN EVANS WAS A PEOPLE'S MAN.

HE WAS ALWAYS -- FIRST OF ALL, HE WAS A VERY FRIENDLY PERSON.

EVERYWHERE WE GO, YOU KNOW, HE USED TO GO THROUGH THE COUNTRY AND VISIT FRIENDS AND VISIT PEOPLE AND SEE THEM ANDREY WITH THEM AND CHAT WITH THEM.

I MEAN, SUCH A FRIENDLY MAN.

YOU WOULD NEVER THINK THAT IS THE GOVERNOR.

>> THERE'S ONE THING I'D LIKE TO INTERJECT, AND THAT IS HIS LOVE FOR HIS BAND AND THE THEME SONG "I DID IT MY WAY."

I THINK THAT REALLY EMBODIES A WHOLE LOT ABOUT GOVERNOR EVANS.

HE DID IT HIS WAY.

HE WAS STRONG.

HE WAS FEARED.

HE WAS GENTLE.

AND HE REALLY HAD THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE AROUND PEOPLE.

♪ ♪ I'VE LIVED A LIFE FULL ♪ ♪ AND TRAVELED EACH AND EVERY ♪ HIGHWAY ♪ ♪ BUT MORE MUCH MORE THAN THIS ♪ ♪ I DID IT MY WAY ♪