Cyril King

Cyril King
2nd Governor of the United States Virgin Islands
In office
January 6, 1975 – January 2, 1978
Lieutenant Juan Francisco Luis
Preceded by Melvin H. Evans
Succeeded by Juan Francisco Luis
Personal details
Born April 7, 1921
Died January 2, 1978(1978-01-02) (aged 56)
U.S. Virgin Islands
Resting place Kinghshill Cemetery
Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Political party Independent Citizens Movement
Spouse(s) Agnes Agatha Schuster (?-1978)
Children one daughter, Lillia.
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Army
Unit 873rd Port Company
Battles/wars World War II

Cyril Emanuel King (April 7, 1921 – January 2, 1978) was an U.S. Virgin Islander politician who served as the second elected governor of the United States Virgin Islands, serving from 1975 until his death in 1978.[1]

He also briefly served as acting governor in 1969, following the resignation of Governor Ralph M. Paiewonsky.

Early life

King was born in Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and grew up on the island.[1][2]  During World War II, King served in the 873rd Port Company in Hawaii.[3]

After service, he attended American University where he earned a public administration degree.[1]

Political career

He worked for Hubert Humphrey, a Senator from Minnesota starting in 1949, black on the staff of a U.S. Senator.[2] He rose through the ranks of that office, eventually becoming his chief of staff.[1] As an appointed government secretary for John F. Kennedy he returned to the islands in 1951.[1]

To support his eventual for governor in 1970 and challenge the Democractic party in the Virgini Islands, he developed the Independent Citizens Movement.[4][2] Though his 1970 campaign was unsuccesful, but he ran a narrow campaign victory in 1974 to become governor of the islands.[1] At the time of his death, he had been planning to run for a second term.[1]

Commemorative Plaque at the Cyril E. King Airport

Legacy

Local statute in the Virgin Islands puts aside April 7, King's birthday, as "Cyril Emmanuel King Day".[5]

In 1984, the Harry S. Truman Airport on St. Thomas was renamed Cyril E. King Airport by the Virgin Islands Legislature.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Virgin Islands Loses Its Black Governor to Cancer". Jet: 15. Jan 19, 1978 – via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 3 "First Black Senate Staff Member Dies". Associated Press. Charlotte Observer-Reporter. 1978-01-04. Retrieved 2011-07-24.
  3. ↑ Thurland, Anne L. (2017-03-19). Will Thurland's World War II Photo Collection: The Virgin Islands Orchestra of the 873rd Port Company. AuthorHouse. pp. 14, 39. ISBN 9781468541229.
  4. ↑ Gunson, Phil; Chamberlain, Greg; Thompson, Andrew (2015-12-22). The Dictionary of Contemporary Politics of Central America and the Caribbean. Routledge. p. 161. ISBN 9781317270539.
  5. ↑ Staff (2013-04-04). "Cyril E. King Commemoration Set for Sunday". V.I. Source Archives. Retrieved 2017-03-19.
Preceded by
Melvin H. Evans		 Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands
1975–1978 		Succeeded by
Juan Francisco Luis
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