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

 

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

 

FILE NUMBER..........

 

Assembly Concurrent Resolution—Memorializing former Assemblywoman Jan Evans.

 

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

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

 most beloved and accomplished legislators, Jan Evans; and

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

 celebration of life, in addition to creating a cause to mourn an

 irreplaceable loss, the passing of Jan Evans was such a time; and

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

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

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

 embittered her, but rather caused her to work passionately on issues such

 as child abuse, domestic violence, education and juvenile justice to protect

 the rights of children; and

   Whereas, After putting herself through the University of Northern

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

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

 sociology from the University of Nevada, Reno; and

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

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

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

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

 spending time as a volunteer lobbyist; and

   Whereas, During her tenure as an Assemblywoman, Jan distinguished

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

 Assembly while serving as a member of the Assembly Committee on

 Ways and Means and the Interim Finance Committee each session, as

 Vice Chair of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means for three

 sessions, as Committee Chair of the Health and Human Services

 Committee and Assistant Majority Floor Leader during the 1991 session,

 as Cospeaker pro Tempore during the 1995 session and as Speaker pro

 Tempore during the 1997 and 1999 sessions; and

   Whereas, As the primary sponsor of many important pieces of

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

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

 to increase money for victims of domestic violence, for protective services

for children, for libraries, for treatment of AIDS and for programs for adult

literacy; and

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

 necessary skills for transition from school to work, to upgrade services

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

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

 money from federal tobacco settlements; and

   Whereas, Jan will be especially remembered and admired for her

 courage and diligence in working for issues relating to women and

 children because, as one of her legislative colleagues recalled, “She cared

 about those issues at a time when they were not popular” and “to take on

 things like domestic violence was very unpopular, but she was very

 brave”; and

   Whereas, Colleagues also remember Jan as one who was always

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

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

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

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

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

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

 did most of the work on a project but was the first to offer thanks to

 everyone who helped; and

   Whereas, Throughout the seven terms Jan served in the Assembly, her

 dedication to the residents of the State of Nevada never waned, even

 during her struggle with cancer, as evidenced by the calls she made from

 her hospital bed after surgery to determine the progress of legislation that

 was important to her; and

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

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

 through the massive amount of time she spent helping such organizations

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

 Women’s Fund, Women’s Health Initiative, KNPB TV, Sparks Heritage

 Foundation and Sparks Community Chamber of Commerce, in addition to

 her role as the Director of Development for the University of Nevada

 School of Medicine; and

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

 the University of Nevada, Reno, the Women Helping Women Award from

 the Soroptimist International of Truckee Meadows, the Hannah

 Humanitarian Award from the Committee to Aid Abused Women, the

 National Merit Award from the State Democratic Leaders Association, the

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

 the Council of State Governments, the Mike O’Callaghan Humanitarian

 Award from the Truckee Meadows Human Services Association, the

 People’s Guardian Award, the Women’s Role Model Award and

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

 cannot express the gratitude she deserves; and

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

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

 Wagner, former Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, when she smiled about

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

would pretend they were announcers and broadcast games to each other

over the telephone; and

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

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

 people”; and

   Whereas, Perhaps Dr. Robert Daugherty, Dean of the University of

 Nevada School of Medicine best summed up our feelings when he

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 unable to fight for themselves; now, therefore, be it

   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the Senate

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

 sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of

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

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

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

 remain, synonymous with compassion, courage and integrity, and the

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

 further

   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly prepare and transmit

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

 Tracey Heath.

 

²⁰~~~~~⁰¹