great faculty, someone inevitably mentions Doc Evans. “I think it’s because he treated them with respect,” says


Orscheln. “Of course, he’s a great educator. But it’s the rela- tionship he had with students that made him stand out.” Evans has taught his share of students—and then some.


Every semester he’d teach a speech course to three lecture halls of around 300 students each. He especially enjoyed international students; he’s had


them to his house for dinner, and keeps in contact with many. “If you walk across campus with Gary Evans, it’s powerful


the number of people who say, ‘Hi, Doc Evans,’” says Beagen. “His wife, Katie, says that when they travel, there’s always a person in a foreign country who’ll say, ‘Doctor Evans!’” During those travels, Evans seeks out the famous places


where students took action against repressive governments. In the last decade, Evans became interested in con-


flict resolution, and had a peace pole installed near Pease Auditorium inscribed with “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in various languages. At the same time, he also established the Evans-Strand Peace Award, a $1,000 award given annually to a student who advances diversity. The award is named for Evans and his wife of 22 years, Katie Strand-Evans, a retired EMU theatre professor. Later in his career, Evans bought a bouquet of flowers


every day and distributed them to people he came across, reserving one carnation for his own lapel. Evans always knew he’d realize when the time to retire


had come. Still, the last months were difficult. “I began to feel there were a few people in the depart-


ment who felt I should be retired, and it was hard to feel I wasn’t as valuable as I had been,” he says. “That hurt. Because there was a time I was really involved at every level. I do understand that the young have to take over, and it’s only right that they do so. That’s what I have to remind myself about world affairs. I can’t take it quite so personally. I have to let the young people take responsibility for what’s going on in the world and in the country and trust that they will make the right decisions. Otherwise, these things in Japan and Libya weigh heavily on me. I worry about what’s happening to people.” Strand-Evans said she’s been pleasantly surprised how


well her husband has adjusted to retirement. “Teaching had always been so important to him, I


didn’t think he’d ever retire,” she says. “Everybody would say, ‘I hear Gary is going to retire. How are YOU doing?’ But he’s done great.” Still, he says it’s been a bit difficult to suddenly have so


much unstructured time. “I’m not always as organized as I’d like to be, and sort of


loosey goosey,” he says. “The nice part is that all of our kids live in this area, and


family is really a critical thing.” Sixteen years ago, the couple sold their Ann Arbor home


and built a large, light-filled home on Pleasant Lake in Freedom Township outside Manchester. It’s a sprawling, airy, comfortable place with lots of toys


both on land and on lake. It’s no surprise their five grandchil- dren—as well as their blended family of four adult chil- dren—love to visit the couple there. Also good company are Denali, a big, friendly Lab-Husky mix, and two calico cats. Filled with artwork and sculptures of wildlife, the home reflects Evans’s love of nature.


H


is daily routine now includes reading, spend- ing as much time outdoors as possible, taking his Prius on errands, and telling himself he really should start various writing projects.


Strand-Evans says people would be surprised to learn her


husband is an introvert. “He loves people, but derives energy from quiet time,” she


says. Evans is grateful to still be here after suffering a near-fatal


aortic dissection, a tear in the largest blood vessel in the body. Had he not driven himself immediately to the hospital, doctors told him, he wouldn’t have survived. Evans used to write down quotations from poets such as


Ralph Waldo Emerson and Robert Frost, then memorize them while driving. For years, his favorite word has been “ponder.” A student


once gave him a plaque urging him to ponder for the rest of his life, a sentiment Evans cherishes. If he and his wife have words, he’ll sit and ponder what he


needs to adjust. If a difficult situation arises with the grand- kids, he’ll sit and think about what to make better next time. Of all the awards Evans has won over the years, none


means more to him than the Martin Luther King, Jr., Humanitarian Award. “That’s what my life has been about more than anything,”


he says, “trying to teach about diversity and caring about each other.” Beagen, calling his good friend “an incredible human


being,” says the breadth of Evans’ interests is remarkable, and his compassion for others unsurpassed. “There are people who are positive, supportive and make you feel good,” says Beagen. “That defines Gary Evans.” 3


Eastern | SUMMER 2011 21

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