Gordan Evans - 2008
MHS 1953 Graduate
Gordon E. Evans, Class of 1953, was nominated by Jeff Evans and the Evans family with supporting letters from Donald E. Rutledge, Ed McNabb, Lee and Sally Heston, and the Board of Directors of the Carrollton Farmers Exchange Company.
In 1957 Evans, who had earned college money by working summers at Metropolitan Brick, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics Degree from Wooster College. After graduation he entered the Navy via the Aviation Officer Candidate Program. He received his commission as an Ensign in October 1957, and joined the fleet serving with Air Anti-submarine Squadron twenty-one. Aboard the U.S.S. Kearsarge, he completed two cruises to the Western Pacific over the next three years.
In 1960 he married Sue Thomas of Minerva, Class of 1955. The next two years he attended Aviation Safety School in Southern California and reported to Advanced Training Squadron 151 in Texas as the Aviation Safety Officer and flight instructor.
Evans then transitioned to jet aircraft deploying to the Mediterranean area aboard the U.S.S. Shangrila and the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy. His next assignment was in Washington, D.C. and then back to Florida and on to the Mediterranean for seven months aboard the U.S.S Franklin D. Roosevelt. During his years as a Naval Aviator, Evans amassed nearly 5,000 hours and 800 carrier landings.
In the fall of 1976, Evans was assigned to the Commander of Light Attack Wing One as Chief Staff Officer. During this period, the Evans family of five, including children Holly, Whitney and Will, ages 14, 12 and 7, decided to leave his promising career and concentrate on raising the children.
On January 1, 1978, Evans retired from the US Navy to become a farmer. Evans has been a member and past president of the Carrollton Board of Education, serving from 1980 to 1992. He is also a member and past president of the board for Carroll County Farmers Exchange, and has served on the Carroll County Regional Planning Commission and the Carroll County Cattlemen's Association.
"During the time that Evans served on the Carrollton Board of Education," Donald Rutledge wrote, "he (Evans) was always considerate in listening to any problem and approached a solution with common sense . . . During the decade that Gordon served on the Board, the Carrollton Exempted Village School District grew both educationally and academically thanks to his vision for better schools."
The Evans family wrote, "Gordy is the eldest of seven children of Lynn and Sue Evans. As the eldest, he was called upon to lead and teach the younger ones as Mom and Dad directed. When Dad enlisted in the Army to serve in World War II, Gordy served as 'the man of the house.' As we grew and followed him, we became aware of the high standards he set for us in school, church, and the community.
The Evans Family is proud of our brother Gordy for his long history of service and leadership. We love and respect him for the strong force and positive example that he provides for his siblings, our children and our grandchildren."