Festival Village Honoree: Clifton “Ashley” Boynes, Sr.

 

2012 St. John Festival Honoree Clifton Ashley Boynes, Sr., better known as Ashley Boynes, is a resident of the island of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. He commuted to the island of St. Thomas to attend the Charlotte Amalie High School, where he graduated as a member of the class of 1962.

After graduation, Boynes worked with the Department of Education until he enlisted in the United States Army in 1963, and was stationed in South Carolina, Colorado and Korea.

Upon his return home, Boynes attended the then College of the Virgin Islands, now known as the University of Virgin Islands, where he studied construction technology.

During that time, Boynes worked as a Vocational Teacher at the Julius E. Sprauve School for two years.  He has been a licensed boat captain for the past 41 years. Boynes joined Transportation Services, Inc. in 1971 as Boat Captain and served as the company’s Operations Manager until 2002.

In 1981, Boynes opened his own business “Inter-Island Boat Service,” which he currently still runs. Boynes has been an active member of the St. John Action Committee as well as the Friends of the V.I. National Park.

In 1966, Boynes married his high school sweetheart, Lydia Harrigan, who was also a member of the class of CAHS 1962. The couple has two children, Clifton Jr. and Lori, and five grandchildren.