Archibald Alphonso Alexander was born on May 14, 1888 in Ottumwa, Iowa and passed away on January 4, 1958. He was an African American engineer and mathematician who excelled a great deal during his career. He was the very first African American to graduate from the University of Iowa and played football for the school from 1910 until 1912. Upon his college graduation, worked as the governor to the U.S. Virgin Islands. He was only governor for a year. In his career as an engineer, he focused mainly on bridge construction and road/highway construction. In 1929, he created Alexander & Repass, a business where he would work until his death in 1958. This company was mainly responsible for the construction of many roads and bridges, including the Whitehurst Freeway, the Tidal Basin Bridge, and an extension to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. He enjoyed designing, building and repairing major bridges and roadways.