Jump to: navigation, search

Archie Alexander biographical cartoon by Charles Alston, 1943
Archie Alphonso Alexander (14 May 1888 – 4 January 1958) was an African-American mathematician and engineer and the first African-American graduate of the University of Iowa. He was also a governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Alexander was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, the son of a janitor and coachman. He initially went to Des Moines College and attempted to join the white-only American football team there, but was declined. He subsequently transferred to the University of Iowa and was permitted to join the football team there, playing as a tackle from 1910 to 1912. After graduation, Alexander worked as a foreman for a bridge-building company before going into business for himself in 1917. He studied bridge design in London, England in 1921. In 1929, he formed Alexander & Repass where he would work until his death. They were responsible for the construction of many roads and bridges, including the Whitehurst Freeway, the Tidal Basin Bridge, and an extension to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. With his business partner, George Higbee, Alexander designed the Tuskegee Airfield and the Iowa State University heating and cooling system.
In 1934, Alexander was appointed as one of a 12-member commission to investigate the social and economic conditions in Haiti. In 1946, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Engineering by Howard University.
In 1954, Alexander was appointed Governor of the United States Virgin Islands by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was the first Republican governor there since the establishment of the civil government. His tenure at the post was short and controversial. In 1955, he was highly criticized for favoring old business partners in contracts for road building on St. Thomas. The United States House of Representatives launched a probe and he subsequently resigned on August 18, 1955, ostensibly for health reasons. He died in 1958, in Iowa.♥£

[edit] Non-recipient of the Spingarn Medal
Some sources, including Alexander's obituary in the New