Jack Wilson Evans
Encyclopedia
Jack Wilson Evans was a grocer and former mayor of Dallas, Texas.
in 1944. Upon returning to Dallas in 1947, he began Evans Lakewood Food Mart at the site of a previously closed Safeway
store. He joined Cullum Companies, which operated several grocery brands including Tom Thumb
stores (now a part of Safeway) in Dallas, in 1966 and eventually became the chairman and CEO of the company in 1986. Evans went to college at Southern Methodist University.
Norman Brinker, who founded such restaurant chains as Chili's
and Steak & Ale, reported Evans loaned him the money to open his third Steak & Ale restaurant in 1968, a key step to the eventual success of Brinker's restaurant empire.
Evans was kidnapped in February 1978 at the Tom Thumb Corporate Headquarters, but escaped when the kidnappers went to collect the $100,000 ransom given by one of his sons, Roy Gene Evans.
reported he told the group "I'm one who accepts people for what they are, and I want you to make the most of what you are" and that he supported hiring gay police officers and firefighters. After intense criticism from constituents and other city officials (homosexuality was illegal in Texas at the time), he retracted his support for hiring gay officers.
While mayor, he also acquired the land and spurred development for the future Dallas Arts District and led the coalition to attract the 1984 Republican National Convention
to the city. In 1982 he founded the Dallas Mayor's committee for the employment of people with disabilaties. His Goal was to make Dallas a model city for the entire world. He added new and improved technology to the Police Department, looked more into Urban Crimes and reinstated the Police Awards Banquet. Evans also made plans for a Dallas Police Memorial. He was thought of as the "Mayor of all People" because of his ability to bring consensus and look at all view points. Evans served one term and did not run for re-election in 1983, choosing to return to his previous position with Cullum Companies.
(DART) in 1992, as the chairman of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board, and on the boards of numerous local companies including Texas Utilities and Brinker International
. In 1989, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of his alma mater, Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas.
In 2000, a section of Fairmount Street in downtown Dallas, which runs through the Arts District he helped create, was renamed Jack Evans Street. In March 2003, the new headquarters of the Dallas Police Department
was completed. It is named the Jack Evans Police Headquarters in honor of the former mayor.
Biography
Working from his youth in grocery stores in Dallas, Jack Evans joined the Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
in 1944. Upon returning to Dallas in 1947, he began Evans Lakewood Food Mart at the site of a previously closed Safeway
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
store. He joined Cullum Companies, which operated several grocery brands including Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb
Tom Thumb is a character of English folklore. The History of Tom Thumb was published in 1621, and has the distinction of being the first fairy tale printed in English. Tom is no bigger than his father's thumb, and his adventures include being swallowed by a cow, tangling with giants, and becoming a...
stores (now a part of Safeway) in Dallas, in 1966 and eventually became the chairman and CEO of the company in 1986. Evans went to college at Southern Methodist University.
Norman Brinker, who founded such restaurant chains as Chili's
Chili's
Chili's Grill & Bar is a restaurant chain founded by Larry Lavine. The chain has more than 1400 casual dining restaurants, mostly located in the United States and Canada...
and Steak & Ale, reported Evans loaned him the money to open his third Steak & Ale restaurant in 1968, a key step to the eventual success of Brinker's restaurant empire.
Evans was kidnapped in February 1978 at the Tom Thumb Corporate Headquarters, but escaped when the kidnappers went to collect the $100,000 ransom given by one of his sons, Roy Gene Evans.
Political career
Evans was elected mayor of Dallas in April 1981, collecting 72% of the vote while running against seven other candidates. In a city often suffering from racial and class divisions, Evans strove to be an inclusive mayor. He received criticism for being the first mayor to address a gay and lesbian organization, the Dallas Gay Alliance. The Dallas Morning NewsThe Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas, Texas area, with a circulation of 264,459 subscribers, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported in September 2010...
reported he told the group "I'm one who accepts people for what they are, and I want you to make the most of what you are" and that he supported hiring gay police officers and firefighters. After intense criticism from constituents and other city officials (homosexuality was illegal in Texas at the time), he retracted his support for hiring gay officers.
While mayor, he also acquired the land and spurred development for the future Dallas Arts District and led the coalition to attract the 1984 Republican National Convention
1984 Republican National Convention
The 1984 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States convened on August 20 to August 23, 1984, at Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas, Texas. The convention nominated the incumbent Ronald Reagan of California for President of the United States and incumbent George H. W...
to the city. In 1982 he founded the Dallas Mayor's committee for the employment of people with disabilaties. His Goal was to make Dallas a model city for the entire world. He added new and improved technology to the Police Department, looked more into Urban Crimes and reinstated the Police Awards Banquet. Evans also made plans for a Dallas Police Memorial. He was thought of as the "Mayor of all People" because of his ability to bring consensus and look at all view points. Evans served one term and did not run for re-election in 1983, choosing to return to his previous position with Cullum Companies.
Post-mayoral work
He continued to work in a civic capacity in Dallas and the surrounding area after completing his mayoral term, serving as the executive director of Dallas Area Rapid TransitDallas Area Rapid Transit
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit authority is a transit agency based in Dallas, Texas . It operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and 12 of its suburbs...
(DART) in 1992, as the chairman of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport Board, and on the boards of numerous local companies including Texas Utilities and Brinker International
Brinker International
Brinker International, Inc. , is the parent company of Chili's and Maggiano's Little Italy.-History:It was founded in 1975 as Chili's Bar and Grill, purchased by restaurateur Norman E. Brinker in 1983 and rechristened Brinker International in 1990; it now has more than 1,500 restaurants worldwide...
. In 1989, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of his alma mater, Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas.
Death
Evans died at his home in 1997 after a long bout with colon cancer, survived by his wife Imogene Sachse Evans, his three sons, Roy Gene Evans, Craig Evans, and Jack Evans Jr. and their families. He is buried in Sachse, Texas. He was given the Henry Cohn Humanatarian award before he died and people said he had a "will for action and was decisive but was never unkind and approached people with warmth, insight, and deep humanity."In 2000, a section of Fairmount Street in downtown Dallas, which runs through the Arts District he helped create, was renamed Jack Evans Street. In March 2003, the new headquarters of the Dallas Police Department
Dallas Police Department
The Dallas Police Department, established in 1881, is the principal law enforcement agency serving the city of Dallas, Texas.-Organization:The department is headed by a chief of police who is appointed by the city manager who, in turn, is hired by the Dallas City Council...
was completed. It is named the Jack Evans Police Headquarters in honor of the former mayor.