Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 18–Assemblymen Anderson, Angle, Arberry, Bache, Beers, Berman, Brower, Brown, Buckley, Carpenter, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, de Braga, Dini, Freeman, Gibbons, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Gustavson, Hettrick, Humke, Koivisto, Lee, Leslie, Manendo, Marvel, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Nolan, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Parks, Parnell, Perkins, Price, Smith, Tiffany, Von Tobel and Williams

 

March 27, 2001

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Joint Sponsors: Senators Raggio, Titus, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Coffin, Jacobsen, James, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, O’Connell, O’Donnell, Porter, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

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Read and Adopted

 

SUMMARY—Memorializes former Assemblywoman Jan Evans. (BDR R‑803)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Assembly Concurrent RESOLUTION—Memorializing former Assemblywoman Jan Evans.

 

1-1    Whereas, On April 24, 2000, flags throughout the State of Nevada

1-2  were lowered to half-mast in honor of the passing of one of this state’s

1-3  most beloved and accomplished legislators, Jan Evans; and

1-4    Whereas, If ever there was a time when a person’s passing initiated a

1-5  celebration of life, in addition to creating a cause to mourn an irreplaceable

1-6  loss, the passing of Jan Evans was such a time; and

1-7    Whereas, Although few were aware of it, after her birth in Cleveland,

1-8  Ohio, Jan grew up in foster homes, where her closest family and best

1-9  friends were the animals in the barn, a circumstance that in no way

1-10  embittered her, but rather caused her to work passionately on issues such as

1-11  child abuse, domestic violence, education and juvenile justice to protect the

1-12  rights of children; and

 

 

2-1    Whereas, After putting herself through the University of Northern

2-2  Colorado, Jan taught in the Denver public schools until she moved to Reno

2-3  in 1969, where she extended her education by earning a master’s degree in

2-4  sociology from the University of Nevada, Reno; and

2-5    Whereas, After moving to Reno, Jan performed volunteer work in the

2-6  community, and even before she began her career as a public servant upon

2-7  being elected in 1986 to represent the residents of Sparks District 30 in the

2-8  Assembly, she influenced the legislative process in the State of Nevada by

2-9  spending time as a volunteer lobbyist; and

2-10    Whereas, During her tenure as an Assemblywoman, Jan distinguished

2-11  herself by attaining the distinction of highest-ranking woman in the

2-12  Assembly while serving as a member of the Assembly Committee on Ways

2-13  and Means and the Interim Finance Committee each session, as Vice Chair

2-14  of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means for three sessions, as

2-15  Committee Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and

2-16  Assistant Majority Floor Leader during the 1991 session, as Cospeaker pro

2-17  Tempore during the 1995 session and as Speaker pro Tempore during the

2-18  1997 and 1999 sessions; and

2-19    Whereas, As the primary sponsor of many important pieces of

2-20  legislation that will touch lives far into the future, Jan Evans built a legacy

2-21  which can never die as she worked diligently to secure the passage of bills

2-22  to increase money for victims of domestic violence, for protective services

2-23  for children, for libraries, for treatment of AIDS and for programs for adult

2-24  literacy; and

2-25    Whereas, Jan also sponsored bills to help equip pupils with the

2-26  necessary skills for transition from school to work, to upgrade services

2-27  relating to substance abuse and mental health, to accomplish long-term

2-28  financial analysis and planning for our state, and to facilitate the use of

2-29  money from federal tobacco settlements; and

2-30    Whereas, Jan will be especially remembered and admired for her

2-31  courage and diligence in working for issues relating to women and children

2-32  because, as one of her legislative colleagues recalled, “She cared about

2-33  those issues at a time when they were not popular” and “to take on things

2-34  like domestic violence was very unpopular, but she was very brave”; and

2-35    Whereas, Colleagues also remember Jan as one who was always

2-36  prepared and had her facts at hand, and they fondly recall the image of her

2-37  slowly lowering her head and looking over her colorful glasses to “scold”

2-38  anyone who came unprepared for a meeting of her committee; and

2-39    Whereas, In the political arena where the ability to unite those with

2-40  diverse opinions looms awesome, this great lady was recognized as a

2-41  builder of bridges toward consensus and as a “power-sharer” who often did

2-42  most of the work on a project but was the first to offer thanks to everyone

2-43  who helped; and

2-44    Whereas, Throughout the seven terms Jan served in the Assembly, her

2-45  dedication to the residents of the State of Nevada never waned, even during

2-46  her struggle with cancer, as evidenced by the calls she made from her

2-47  hospital bed after surgery to determine the progress of legislation that was

2-48  important to her; and

3-1    Whereas, Proving herself to be a powerful force not only as a

3-2  legislator, Jan revealed her strength of character and devotion to others

3-3  through the massive amount of time she spent helping such organizations

3-4  as the Advisory Council of the Committee to Aid Abused Women, Nevada

3-5  Women’s Fund, Women’s Health Initiative, KNPB TV, Sparks Heritage

3-6  Foundation and Sparks Community Chamber of Commerce, in addition to

3-7  her role as the Director of Development for the University of Nevada

3-8  School of Medicine; and

3-9    Whereas, The receipt of such awards as the Thornton Peace Prize from

3-10  the University of Nevada, Reno, the Women Helping Women Award from

3-11  the Soroptimist International of Truckee Meadows, the Hannah

3-12  Humanitarian Award from the Committee to Aid Abused Women, the

3-13  National Merit Award from the State Democratic Leaders Association, the

3-14  Governor’s Mental Health Leadership Award, the Toll Fellowship from the

3-15  Council of State Governments, the Mike O’Callaghan Humanitarian

3-16  Award from the Truckee Meadows Human Services Association, the

3-17  People’s Guardian Award, the Women’s Role Model Award and

3-18  posthumous induction into the Hall of Fame of the Nevada Women’s Fund

3-19  cannot express the gratitude she deserves; and

3-20    Whereas, In spite of her long hours of serious work, Jan also had a

3-21  lighter side, as evidenced by the recollection of her close friend Sue

3-22  Wagner, former Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, when she smiled about

3-23  times she and Jan, as two of the few Cleveland Indian fans in this area,

3-24  would pretend they were announcers and broadcast games to each other

3-25  over the telephone; and

3-26    Whereas, Jan Evans, said the Reverend John Ruby, who conducted her

3-27  funeral service, “lived not only with passion for issues, but compassion for

3-28  people”; and

3-29    Whereas, Perhaps Dr. Robert Daugherty, Dean of the University of

3-30  Nevada School of Medicine best summed up our feelings when he

3-31  eulogized, “What do you say when an angel goes to heaven? Nevada has

3-32  lost part of its soul and those of us left can only hope to show each other

3-33  the respect and provide the help that Jan provided every day. In the office

3-34  or in the Legislature, she was always looking after someone other than

3-35  herself. Her behind-the-scenes work on behalf of all of us is indestructible,

3-36  and the results will live for a long time.”; and

3-37    Whereas, Jan’s presence will be sorely missed, both in the Legislature

3-38  and in all the places she touched, because as everyone who knew her

3-39  acknowledges, Jan was a completely selfless champion of those who were

3-40  unable to fight for themselves; now, therefore, be it

3-41    Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

3-42  Concurring, That the members of the 71st legislative session offer their

3-43  sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of

3-44  Jan Evans, a woman who endeared herself to everyone she knew,

3-45  especially to those of us with whom she served; and be it further

3-46    Resolved, That the name Jan Evans has become, and will always

3-47  remain, synonymous with compassion, courage and integrity, and the

3-48  person Jan Evans will always be alive in our hearts and minds; and be it

3-49  further

4-1    Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

4-2  a copy of this resolution to Jan’s son, Robert Evans, and her daughter,

4-3  Tracey Heath.

 

4-4  H