Vernon Huber
Encyclopedia
Vernon Huber was a United States Navy
Rear admiral
, and the 36th Governor of American Samoa from April 22, 1947 to June 15, 1949. He was born in Philadelphia, Illinois
, and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
from that state. He served as the first commanding officer of the USS Livermore (DD-429)
upon its launch in 1940. After his appointment, he advocated the diversification of the American Samoan economy
. He also helped add to American Samoan self-government, and was the first governor to serve alongside a Samoan legislature, the American Samoa Fono
.
to parents Herbert Oliver and Nelle Davis Huber. On December 27, 1927, he married Ida Brown. Upon arriving at the El Camino Hospital
in Los Altos, California
on June 16, 1967, Huber was pronounced dead.
on July 17, 1918. He was the first commander of the USS Livermore (DD-429)
upon its launch in 1940.
and took the office of Governor of American Samoa. His assistant governor was Ralph Ramey.
He supported the opening of a cannery by famed aviator Harold Gatty
, believing it would help diversify the American Samoan economy
.
During his term, the Samoans moved towards greater self-government. Under Huber's encouragement, the legislature of the territory, the American Samoa Fono
, convened for the first time. As governor, Huber maintained certain powers over the legislature, including the power of veto
. This reversed the previous position of Governor Otto Dowling
, who had claimed an act of the United States Congress
would be required to form a legislature. He ceded the office to Thomas Francis Darden, Jr. on June 15, 1949.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
, and the 36th Governor of American Samoa from April 22, 1947 to June 15, 1949. He was born in Philadelphia, Illinois
Philadelphia, Illinois
Philadelphia is an unincorporated community in Cass County, Illinois, United States. Philadelphia is located on Illinois Route 125 southeast of Virginia. Vernon Huber, the 36th Governor of American Samoa, was born in Philadelphia....
, and was appointed to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
from that state. He served as the first commanding officer of the USS Livermore (DD-429)
USS Livermore (DD-429)
USS Livermore , a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the 1st ship of the United States Navy to be named for Samuel Livermore, the first naval chaplain to be honored with a ship in his name....
upon its launch in 1940. After his appointment, he advocated the diversification of the American Samoan economy
Economy of American Samoa
The economy of American Samoa is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the United States, with which American Samoa conducts the great bulk of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and processing plants are the...
. He also helped add to American Samoan self-government, and was the first governor to serve alongside a Samoan legislature, the American Samoa Fono
American Samoa Fono
The Legislature of American Samoa or Fono is the territorial legislature of American Samoa. Like most state and territorial legislatures of the United States, it is a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate...
.
Life
Huber was born on August 28, 1899 in Philadelphia, IllinoisPhiladelphia, Illinois
Philadelphia is an unincorporated community in Cass County, Illinois, United States. Philadelphia is located on Illinois Route 125 southeast of Virginia. Vernon Huber, the 36th Governor of American Samoa, was born in Philadelphia....
to parents Herbert Oliver and Nelle Davis Huber. On December 27, 1927, he married Ida Brown. Upon arriving at the El Camino Hospital
El Camino Hospital
El Camino Hospital is a 395-bed hospital based in Mountain View, California.Located on a campus in the heart of Silicon Valley, El Camino Hospital serves residents in the El Camino Hospital District — Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, and portions of Sunnyvale and Palo Alto — as...
in Los Altos, California
Los Altos, California
Los Altos is a city at the southern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 28,976 according to the 2010 census....
on June 16, 1967, Huber was pronounced dead.
Naval career
Huber was appointed to the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
on July 17, 1918. He was the first commander of the USS Livermore (DD-429)
USS Livermore (DD-429)
USS Livermore , a Gleaves-class destroyer, was the 1st ship of the United States Navy to be named for Samuel Livermore, the first naval chaplain to be honored with a ship in his name....
upon its launch in 1940.
Governorship
On August 22, 1947, Huber relieved Harold HouserHarold Houser
Harold Alexander Houser was a United States Navy Rear admiral, and the 35th Governor of American Samoa from September 10, 1945 to April 22, 1947. Houser was born in Fort Valley, Georgia, and graduated from the Marion Military Institute before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval...
and took the office of Governor of American Samoa. His assistant governor was Ralph Ramey.
He supported the opening of a cannery by famed aviator Harold Gatty
Harold Gatty
Harold Charles Gatty was an Australian navigator, inventor, and aviation pioneer...
, believing it would help diversify the American Samoan economy
Economy of American Samoa
The economy of American Samoa is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the United States, with which American Samoa conducts the great bulk of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and processing plants are the...
.
During his term, the Samoans moved towards greater self-government. Under Huber's encouragement, the legislature of the territory, the American Samoa Fono
American Samoa Fono
The Legislature of American Samoa or Fono is the territorial legislature of American Samoa. Like most state and territorial legislatures of the United States, it is a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate...
, convened for the first time. As governor, Huber maintained certain powers over the legislature, including the power of veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
. This reversed the previous position of Governor Otto Dowling
Otto Dowling
Otto Carl Dowling was an United States Navy Captain, and the 25th Governor of American Samoa from April 17, 1934 to January 15, 1936. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1903. Dowling served in World War I, before retiring...
, who had claimed an act of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
would be required to form a legislature. He ceded the office to Thomas Francis Darden, Jr. on June 15, 1949.