The Key West Citizen

Since the United States purchased the Virgin Islands from Denmark in 1917, 14 American governors have been quartered in the stately mansion overlooking the quaint little city of Charlotte Amalie on the island of St. Thomas.

Latest appointee to preside over this Caribbean paradise is Walter A. Gordon, Berkeley, California, penologist whose grandparents were slaves of another governor—John B. Gordon, Confederate general and governor of Georgia. Arriving last fall with his attractive wife, Mary Elizabeth, Gordon succeeded the controversial Archie Alexander.

For years the Virgin Island post was regarded as an Elysium for retired Navy officers, but in an effort to offset increasing local opposition to the system of the political appointees, three of the last four governors named by the U. S. Department of Interior have been Stateside Negroes. William H Hastie, who took office in 1946, resigned to become judge of the U. S. Third Court of Appeals. After 14 hectic months, Alexander left the island in ill health. Governor Gordon was warmly received, given odds to succeed despite the unpopular organic act which gives him veto power over the legislature,

But already there are the familiar rumbling of discontent. We will not be satisfied," said a spokesman for the islanders "until we have our own governor, elected or appointed."

Perhaps no governor of the Virgin Islands has arrived with a longer record of achievement or greater personal popularity than did Walter A. Gordon. The Georgia-born California-reared athlete was the first Negro to play football on the University of California varsity team, and in 1918 he became the first Californian named to Walter Camp's All-American. While on the night shift of the Berkeley police force, Gordon attended law classes in the mornings, was assistant football coach at his alma mater in the afternoons. He served on the important Board of Prison Terms and Paroles, then in 1945 was appointed chairman of the California Adult Authority.

Although a staunch Republican who had boxed with Chief Justice Warren in college and had later coached Warren's son, the gubernatorial appointment came as a complete surprise. "I got a phone call one day asking me if I was interested in the position." he recalls. "And I said yes." At that time he had never seen the Virgin Islands, knew none of its previous governors.