Alexander Moorhead was born on June 7, 1945 to parents Alexander Moorhead II and Esther Moorhead. Photo Credit: UVI
Alexander Moorhead, former Senate Minority Leader and Board Chair Emeritus of the University of the Virgin Islands, has died. He was 77.
The Crucian-born Moorhead, who died at his home on Friday, obtained his undergraduate degree from Moravian College in Pennsylvania before returning home elected to three terms in the Legislature of the Virgin Islands from 1971-1976, where he served as a Senate Minority Leader.
Mr. Moorhead was subsequently employed by the V.I. Water and Power Authority from 1977-1979, first as Director of Management Services and later as Deputy Executive Director, the number two position in that public utility. After securing his master's degree from Harvard University in 1980, Moorhead was hired by the Hess Oil (later HOVENSA) refinery on St. Croix, and served as HOVENSA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Community Relations and Secretary until his retirement in June 2010.
He was appointed and confirmed to the Board of Trustees of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) in March 1996 and was re-elected for five consecutive terms until his retirement in May 2020. Mr. Moorhead’s time on the UVI Board spanned the administration of three University presidents, and his tenure was marked by his active participation in, and support of, numerous key UVI initiatives and projects.
During his distinguished service, Moorhead served as Board chair for five years and vice chair for 16 Years. An involved Chair, he was a member of several of the Board’s committees; Audit, Building and Grounds, Finance & Budget, Governance, and two Presidential Search committees. With fellow committee members entrusting him with chairing various sub-committees during his tenure, Mr. Moorhead also served on the Board’s Executive Committee for all 24 years of his service on the UVI Board. He provided those committees and the Board the benefit of his experience gained during his service in the private sector and public sector and his knowledge of higher education. In recognition of, and gratitude for his outstanding and superb service as a member of the Board of Trustees, Moorhead was granted the status of Board Chair Emeritus with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities pertaining thereto.
In 2021, Moorhead was also awarded an honorary doctoral degree from UVI, in recognition of his exemplary service to not just the university, but to the territory as whole.
Alexander Moorhead was born on June 7, 1945 to parents Alexander Moorhead II and Esther Moorhead.
