PDG Rupert Ross, Jr. & Cheryl Ross

Rupert W. Ross, Jr. was born on August 7, 1942, in Frederiksted, St. Croix. He completed his elementary and junior high School education at the Frederiksted Public Grammar School and the Frederiksted Junior High School. At the age of thirteen, he enrolled in Colegio San Justo in Puerto Rico, where he completed high school.

His professional career began as an educator in 1963 at the ClaudeO.Markoe School, where he taught mathematics and Spanish in both the regular and adult educational programs. He subsequently became an assistant principal, and then the principal of St. Croix Central High School for thirteen (13) years. He later moved on to the position of district director of labor relations and contract management, then he became the superintendent of schools for St. Croix, and later, the Virgin Islands assistant commissioner of education -the position from which he temporarily retired on December 31, 1994.

He returned to public service for two years as St. Croix Administrator, the governor's representative, and currently serves as an elected member of the Virgin Islands Board of Election. 

In addition to education, Mr. Ross' community involvement spans over three decades. Mr. Ross was, in June 2007, active as a member of the Selective Service Appeals Board, chairman of the Frederiksted Economic Development Association (FEDA), an elected member of the St. Croix Board of Election, and District Governor Nominee for Rotary International, District 7020.

[Now, in 2008 July, Mr. Ross is the new District 7020 Governor.]

Mr. Ross was inducted into Rotary in 1982 as a member of the Rotary Club of St. Croix West. During his twenty-four year tenure, he has served his club as a director, sergeant-at-arms, treasurer, secretary, first vice-president, and president. He has served his district as district governor group representative, district conference chairman, district secretary, and assistant governor. He is a Paul Harris Fellow. He has attended fifteen district assemblies and conferences, numerous Rotary fellowships and four international conventions.

In spite of all the above, Mr. Ross' commitment to family and friends is ever present. He enjoys a great relationship and spends quality time with his immediate family, parents, siblings and friends. He believes in family values as the foundation for addressing the many woes of our community, and is convinced that our success will be based on how well we nurture a safe, healthy, and creative environment for all our children. He is married to Cheryl E. Seales for the past thirty-seven years. They have three children-Cheru Ann, Rupert Oliver, Edgar Tyrone.