Ron de Lugo

Ron de Lugo (August 2, 1930 – July 14, 2020) was an American politician. He was the first Delegate from the United States Virgin Islands to the United States House of Representatives. Ron de Lugo's parents were Puerto Ricans. Mr. De Lugo's grandfather owned a hardware store and gun dealership in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Ron's parents were living in New Jersey at the time Ron was born and also lived in the Virgin Islands as civil servants. He was born in Englewood, New Jersey, and attended the Colegio San José, Puerto Rico. He served in the United States Army as a program director and announcer for the Armed Forces Radio Service. He worked at WSTA radio, St. Thomas, and also at the WIVI radio, St. Croix. He was a Virgin Islands territorial Senator, a Democratic National Committeeman, the administrator for St. Croix, the representative of the Virgin Islands to Washington, D.C., and a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1956, 1960, 1964 and 1968.

Ron de Lugo
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from the U.S. Virgin Islands' at-large district
In office January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Melvin H. Evans
Succeeded by	Victor O. Frazer
In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Melvin H. Evans
Personal details
Born	August 2, 1930 Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	July 14, 2020 (aged 89) Miami, Florida, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Maria Morales Viera Sheila Paiewonsky
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1948–1950
Unit	Armed Forces Radio

De Lugo was elected as a Democratic Delegate to the United States House of Representatives, serving from January 3, 1973 to January 3, 1979.

De Lugo chose not to seek re-election to the U.S. House in 1978 in order to pursue a bid for Governor of the United States Virgin Islands. De Lugo challenged incumbent Democratic Governor Juan Francisco Luis in the 1978 gubernatorial election.[1] He chose Eric E. Dawson, a Senator in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, as his running mate for lieutenant governor.[1] Governor Juan Luis defeated de Lugo in the gubernatorial general election on November 7, 1978.[1] Gov. Luis and Lt. Henry Millin won 10,978 votes, or 59.2% of the total vote.[1] De Lugo and Dawson placed second, garnering 7,568 votes, or 40.8%.[1] Luis won all three of the U.S. Virgin Islands' main islands in the election.[1]

He was elected to the House again, serving from January 3, 1981 to January 3, 1995. He was a resident of Saint Croix. De Lugo died on July 14, 2020, less than a month before his 90th birthday.[2]

Legacy

The Ron de Lugo Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse on St. Thomas is named after him.

See also

• List of Hispanic Americans in the United States Congress

References

1. Feuerzeig, Penny (1978-11-08). "Luis-Millin, Evans Beats Watlington". Virgin Islands Daily News. Retrieved 2011-07-26.
2. Cheslik, Stephen (July 14, 2020). "Ron de Lugo, V.I. delegate to Congress, dies". The Virgin Islands Daily News. Retrieved July 14, 2020.

External links

• United States Congress. "Ron de Lugo (id: D000209)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Appearances on C-SPAN