"Archie Alphonse Alexander"(May 14,1888-January 4,1958)

Was an African-American mathematician and engineer and an early African-American graduate of the University of Iowa and he was the first to graduate from the University of Iowa's College of Engineering.He was also a governor of the U.S.Virgin Islands.Archie was born in Ottawa,Iowa,the son of Price and Mary Alexander.When the family moved to a farm outside Des Moines,Price became head custodian at the Des Moines National Bank,which at that time was a prestigious job for a black man.Attending,Oak Park Grammar School,Oak Park High School and Highland Park College for one year,Archie began his engineering education at the State University of Iowa(The University of Iowa).He initially went to Des Moines College and attempted to join the white-only American football team there,he was declined.As a result,he played tackle from 1910 to 1912.During the summer he worked as a draftsman for Marsh Engineers, a Des Moines bridge-designing firm and in 1912,he received a bachelor of science degree becoming The University of Iowa's first black football player and engineer.After graduation,Archie worked as a foreman for a bridge-building company before going into business for himself in 1917.Continuing his education at the University of London,Archie studied bridge design in and obtained a degree in civil engineering in 1925  from the State University of Iowa.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,Archie designed the Tuskegee Airfield and the Iowa State University heating and cooling system.In 1934,Archie 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,Archie was appointed Governor of the United States Virgin Islands Dwight D. Eisenhower.He was the first Republican governor there since the establishment of the civil government.His tenure at the post short and controversial.In 1955,he was highly criticized for favoring old business partners in contracts for road building on St.Thomas.The U.S.House of Representatives launched a probe and he subsequently resigned on August 18,1955,ostensibly for health reasons.He died in 1958,in Iowa.He married Audra Linzy of Denver,Colorado in 1913.Their Des Moines home was designed and built by Archie.They had a son,Archie Alphonso,Jr.Who died in childhood.He left a trust fund for his wife,and upon her death in 1973 the remaining $315,000 was divided equally for engineering scholarships at the University of Iowa,Tuskegee Institute,and Howard University.