George Evans Obit and Article

George Evans Obit and Article: "

From "Chatsworth Illinois Memories"   From www.pantagraph.com   Unit 5's longest serving superintendent dies Friday Home / News / Local News / Local Education By Phyllis Coulter | pcoulter@pantagraph.com | Posted: Friday, February 19, 2010 6:30 pm |   NORMAL — The longest serving superintendent in Unit 5 school district history, and the man for whom the district’s new junior high school is named, died Friday. George L. Evans, 81, of Normal, died at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, surrounded by his family. “No single person has made a larger impact on Unit 5 in its 61-year history than George Evans,” said Superintendent Gary Niehaus. “George worked hard to build coalitions between community groups, which still exist today. His leadership in the community and district is unmatched.” Evans started as a math teacher at Normal Community High School in 1954, and coached football there. He was later named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He became Unit 5 superintendent in 1967, and continued in that position for 17 years, until 1985. “He had tremendous respect,” said Loren Lay who served as a school board member when Evans was superintendent. “Ironically, he was also my high school football coach,” Lay said. “He was very fair and honest. He knew how to balance the best interests of students, of teachers and taxpayers,” Lay said. “Sometimes when you called the Unit 5 office, he answered the phone,” Lay recalls. In November, school board members honored Evans by naming the George L. Evans Junior High School after him. It is now under construction in Bloomington and is scheduled to open in August 2011. Members of the community and his family, including his wife, Harriet Evans, attended a reception in his honor. At the time, he said, “I am truly honored. I feel like I share this with many dedicated teachers and really great administrators. If a superintendent doesn’t have those, he doesn’t have anything.” Earlier this month, he toured the school site and “was amazed at the design and the progress on the school” said Unit 5 spokeswoman Dayna Brown. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington. A private family burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Visitation is from 2 to5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. NORMAL — George L. Evans, 81, Normal, died peacefully at 8:02 a.m. Friday (Feb. 19, 2010) at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, Normal, surrounded by his family. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington, with the Rev. Dr. Randall K. Perry officiating. A private family burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Community Cancer Center, Normal. George was born Sept. 4, 1928, in Lake Forest, the son of John Lewis and Blodwen Roberts Evans.  He married his high school sweetheart, Harriet Johnson, on Nov. 19, 1949, in Lake Forest. She survives. He is also survived by one daughter, Susan (Doug) Schultz, San Angelo, Texas; two sons, Michael (Shari) Evans and Bruce (Jeanine) Evans, both of Bloomington; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and one sister, Margaret “Betty” Eul, Longboat Key, Fla. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Virginia Pett. George was a U.S. Army veteran, serving at Fort Knox, Ky. He received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from Lake Forest College in 1951 and his master’s degree in educational administration from Illinois State University. George began his professional career teaching and coaching at Chatsworth High School. In 1954, he came to Normal Community High School, where he first served as head football coach and math teacher, later becoming assistant principal. He was the assistant superintendent for Unit 5 School District and later became superintendent, where he served for 17 years, before retiring in 1985. After his retirement, George was named president of Citizens Savings and Loan, where he had also served on the board of directors. George was named to the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall Of Fame. He enjoyed traveling, was an avid golfer who often said that that he played golf every day that ended in “Y.” He was a member of Bloomington Country Club. The family would like to thank each of the physicians who cared for him throughout his illness. A special thank you is also extended to the nurses and staff at the Community Cancer Center and the Neuro Specialty Care Unit of Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, for providing loving care and support to George and his family. Posted in Obituaries on Saturday, February 20, 2010 12:00 am   George L. Evans

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