Page 177 - PGM Compendium

No. 40); Second Viceroy of St- Alban's Conclave, No. 18 (Knights of Red Cross of Constantine)
and a member of the Legion of Honor (Order of DeMolay). He is a member of Sigma Alpha
Epsilon, Phi Delta Phi, American Legion, American Bar Association, a Past President of the
College Club of Seattle, a past member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Washington
Alumni Association, a Past President of the Seattle Bar Association and at present a member of
the Board of Governors of the Washington State Bar Association.

In 1953, President Eisenhower tabbed Most Worshipful Brother Elvidge as the second appointed
civilian Governor of Guam. He would remain in that office until May 1956. According to
historians Paul Carano and Pedro Sanchez, his administration was defined by a determined effort
to reduce government spending and improving the territory’s medical facilities and school system.
In addition, he tried to encourage the local population to engage in western style commercial
agriculture, but this effort was met with little success.

He did, however, have several notable achievements. Using his experience as a lawyer, he was
able to negotiate with the naval authorities an agreement to increase power and water allocations
for the general public. Governor Elvidge also worked to get Guam included in the Federal National
Mortgage Association program, which helped provide funds for new housing or to build additions
to existing housing for local residents.

The Elvidge administration also developed an islandwide cleanup program. Upon his arrival on
Guam, Elvidge had observed that the island was littered with surplus military materials, abandoned
automobile wreckage, piles of dumped trash and other eyesores which presented a potential health
hazard. The cleanup campaign focused on education on proper sanitation procedures and village
level efforts to remove garbage. In January 1954, Elvidge focused on acquiring over $100,000
worth of surplus military property, including plumbing supplies, heavy equipment, tools and
typewriters. Many of these items were used by the government and also by the newly opened
vocational school.

Another of Governor Elvidge’s significant achievements was his proposal to convert the newly
constructed nursing school building at the Guam Memorial Hospital to a general hospital ward.
The nursing school was part of a new hospital complex being constructed in Oka, Tamuning.
Elvidge feared that funding would run out during the construction of the hospital due to decreasing
tax revenues.
Although Elvidge’s plan was initially rejected by the Legislature, eventually by 4 June 1955, a
new 6- story, 65,000 square foot structure became a new wing of the permanent Guam Memorial
Hospital.

Elvidge also worked toward the reopening of the Guam Museum in the garden house at the grounds
of the Plaza de España, forming a Parks, Monuments and Museum Committee to reestablish, equip
and operate the museum, as well as conduct studies and restore and preserve important historical
landmarks.