Vernon Huber (August 28, 1899 – June 17, 1967) was a

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

rear admiral Rear admiral is a flag officer rank used by English-speaking navies. In most European navies, the equivalent rank is called counter admiral. Rear admiral is usually immediately senior to commodore and immediately below vice admiral. It is ...

, and the

governor of American Samoa This is a list of Governor (United States), governors, etc. of the part of the Samoan Islands (now comprising American Samoa) under United States administration since 1900. From 1900 to 1978 governors were appointed by the Federal government o ...

from April 22, 1947, to June 15, 1949. He was born in Philadelphia, Illinois, and was appointed to the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

from that state. He served as the first commanding officer of the destroyer upon its launch in 1940. After his appointment, he advocated the diversification of the American Samoan economy. He also helped to increase the level American Samoan self-government, and was the first governor to serve alongside a Samoan legislature, the

American Samoa Fono The American Samoa Fono is the territorial legislature of American Samoa. Like most states and territorial legislatures of the United States, it is a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives and a Senate. The legislature is located ...

Life

Huber was born on August 28, 1899, in Philadelphia, Illinois, 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 Los Altos (; Spanish language, Spanish for "The Heights") is a city in Santa Clara County, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The population was 31,625 according to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Most of the city's growth ...

, on June 16, 1967, Huber was pronounced dead.

Naval career

Huber was appointed to the

on July 17, 1918. He was the first commander of the destroyer upon its launch in 1940.

Governorship

On August 22, 1947, Huber relieved Harold Houser and took the office of

Governor of American Samoa This is a list of Governor (United States), governors, etc. of the part of the Samoan Islands (now comprising American Samoa) under United States administration since 1900. From 1900 to 1978 governors were appointed by the Federal government o ...

. His assistant governor was Ralph Ramey. Huber supported the opening of a cannery by famed aviator

Harold Gatty Harold Charles Gatty (5 January 1903 – 30 August 1957) was an Australian navigator and aviation pioneer. Charles Lindbergh called Gatty the "Prince of Navigators."Gywnn-Jones, Terry, ''Harold Gatty, Aviation Navigation Expert'', Aviation Histo ...

, 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

, convened for the first time. As governor, Huber maintained certain powers over the legislature, including the power of

veto A veto is a legal power to unilaterally stop an official action. In the most typical case, a president (government title), president or monarch vetoes a bill (law), bill to stop it from becoming statutory law, law. In many countries, veto powe ...

. This reversed the previous position of Governor Otto Dowling, who had claimed an act of the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

would be required to form a legislature. He ceded the office to Thomas Francis Darden Jr. on June 15, 1949.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Huber, Vernon 1899 births 1967 deaths People from Cass County, Illinois Governors of American Samoa United States Navy admirals United States Navy personnel of World War I United States Navy personnel of World War II United States Naval Academy alumni Recipients of the Legion of Merit Military personnel from Illinois