April 6, 2007 — For those who knew him, the late Gov. Cyril Emmanuel King was a well-rounded and “remarkable” person, whose leadership abilities, compassion and strength were exhibited wherever he went — from the halls of the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C., to the streets and neighborhoods of the Virgin Islands.
“He was a very, very special human being, who was comfortable with everyone from the boys in Savan to the multimillionaires on the mainland,” said Robert S. Mathes, who served as the head of planning and development at the Department of Conservation and Cultural Affairs under King’s administration.
“He was also a true leader in every sense of the word,” Mathes added. “Probably my most vivid memory is walking behind him as he almost marched through the corridors at the Department of Interior in Washington, D.C. And people would sort of peek out of their windows, looking at his commanding presence and silver white hair.”
Mathes chuckled as he remembered playing softball with King in the local governmental league. “He would pitch. He wasn’t the greatest athlete in the world, but he was the governor, so he pitched,” he said. “He was just a remarkable human being. His whole persona was just captivating, and my memories of him are so vivid and fond — even after 30 years.”
Local radio personality Irvin "Brownie" Brown, who was the team's catcher, also laughed as he remembered playing ball with King. "He was just such a friendly guy," Brown said when contacted Friday evening. "And he was a great governor, who worked hard for the people here. He would just walk out of Government House and onto Main Street, meeting and talking to people. He was exactly what the community wanted…and I miss him."
The details of King’s life, often preserved through stories or other anecdotes from old friends, are also taught to students in the territory’s schools. In the Virgin Islands, the local airport bears his name, and on April 7 — King’s birthday — many ceremonies are conducted by various local organizations in his honor.
On Saturday, for example, members of the Independent Citizens Movement will gather at the airport on St. Thomas at 10 a.m. to lay flowers at a sculpture of King, located next to the parking lot. King founded the ICM party in the 1960s, prior to running for governor in 1969.
This year, Gov. John deJongh Jr. has also proclaimed April 7 “Gov. Cyril Emmanuel King Day,” and has directed the territory’s schools to conduct ceremonies and circulate information on King and his many contributions to the V.I. community.
King was born in Frederiksted, St. Croix, on April 7, 1921, to Martin and Melvina King. He received his early education at St. Ann's and St. Mary's schools. After high school, King enlisted in the military and then enrolled at American University in Washington, D.C., where he earned a bachelor's degree in public administration.
While in the Army, he attained the rank of sergeant and attended Army leadership school in New Orleans, La.
After military service, King served for 12 years as assistant to Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota. He was the first black to serve on the staff of a U.S. senator.
King eventually became Humphrey's senior staff member responsible for research on disarmament for a special Senate subcommittee headed by Humphrey. In 1958 he represented the senator at the Disarmament Conference held by the Post-World War Council.
While employed with Humphrey, King kept close ties with the Virgin Islands. A strong supporter of youth initiatives, King helped organize the Youth Council on St. Croix.
President John F. Kennedy appointed King to serve as governor secretary of the Virgin Islands, later known as the elective post of lieutenant governor, with then Gov. Ralph Paiewonsky. He served in that position from 1961 to 1969, when he was appointed acting governor for approximately four months.
In 1969 King announced his candidacy for governor and launched an aggressive campaign against Melvin Evans and Judge Alexander Farrelly. The election ushered in a new era for the territory, as it was the first time citizens of the Virgin Islands were able to vote for their own governor.
During the election, King received 5,422 votes, while Evans and Farrelly received 4, 926 and 4,634 votes, respectively. In a subsequent runoff election, Evans emerged as the winner, becoming the first elected governor of the Virgin Islands.
In 1972 King ran for and was elected senator in the St. Thomas-St. John district. He served one term in the V.I. Legislature.
King ran for governor again in 1974. Three teams of candidates ran in that election, and King, along with running mate Juan Francisco Luis, won the seat in a runoff election, becoming the second elected governor of the territory.
King was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1977. On Monday, Jan. 2, 1978, after a prolonged battle with the illness, he died.
King was married to the late Agnes Agatha Schuster King. The couple had one daughter, Lillia.
King would have celebrated his 86th birthday this year.
For more information on King, see “Ceremonies Planned Friday for Cyril E. King Day), or visit the Department of Education website.
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