Frank Barnett
| Frank Barnett | |
|---|---|
| 49th Governor of American Samoa | |
| In office October 1, 1976 – May 27, 1977 |
|
| Preceded by | Earl B. Ruth |
| Succeeded by | Hyrum Rex Lee |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Frank Elliott Barnett[1] July 20, 1933 Atlanta, Georgia |
| Political party | Republican |
Frank Elliott Barnett (born July 20, 1933) was the 49th Governor of American Samoa from October 1, 1976 to May 27, 1977.[2][3] Before becoming governor, he was a Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and a Tennessee attorney.[4] He served as the first Lieutenant Governor of American Samoa for two years prior to his governorship.[4] While governor, a number of Samoans signed a petition accusing him of abusing local officials; others signed a counter-petition supporting him, and the charges were eventually dropped. This arose from his firing of Mere Betham, a native who had been serving as Samoan Director of Education, an action he defended as necessary to improve education on the island, but others decried as racist; Barnett reinstated Betham one week after dismissing her.[5]
Barnett now lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.[6]
References
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- ↑ When Frank Barnett Met the Queen. April 1, 2014.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Governor of American Samoa 1976–1977 |
Succeeded by Hyrum Rex Lee |
| Commandant (1900–05) |
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| Naval (1905–51) | ||
| Civil (1951–78) | ||
| Elected (since 1978) | ||
