Raymond T. Evans
Raymond T. Evans | |
|---|---|
| Delaware House of Representatives | |
| In office 1966–1968 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 13, 1933 |
| Died | May 19, 1984 (aged 50) |
| Political party | Republican |
Raymond T. Evans (August 13, 1933 – May 19, 1984) was a state legislator in Delaware. He served in the Delaware House of Representatives as a Republican from 1966 until 1968.
Biography
[edit]Evans was born August 13, 1933,[1] and graduated from the Howard High School in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1952.[2]
Evans first tried unsuccessfully for election to the house in 1964, then successfully in 1966 by defeating incumbent Harry S. Wilson.[3] He represented the 2nd district, Wilmington, Delaware, in the Delaware House of Representatives from 1966 until 1968.[2] During his service he was the chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee.[2]
He went to Washington in July 1967 to have closed-door meetings with senators J. Caleb Boggs and John Williams and representative William Roth to discuss the misapplied federal efforts on urban problems.[4]
Evans declared that he would fast from April 23, 1968, until the Assembly took action on the problems facing the black community.[5] He fasted for ten days on just liquids.[2]
Evans was the only black delegate at the Republican National Convention in 1968 and staged a revolt over the nomination of Richard Nixon over Nelson Rockefeller.[6] He refused to change his vote and left the convention with the remaining delegates then recording all twelve votes for Nixon in his absence.[6]
He owned a liquor store which in July 1968 was shot at from a passing car and a bar he owned had been fire-bombed the previous week.[7] Evans was not sure if the target was him or the businesses.[7]
He sought re-election in 1968 ignoring calls to run for a seat on the County Council or the presidency of the City Council instead.[3] He was running for the new 3rd district created that year.[3] He was defeated by democrat Oliver S. Fonville and went on to be appointed as a special assistant to Hal Haskell.[8] He served in this position until 1972 liaising between the mayors office and the black community.[2] He had been known for patrolling the streets in his car in the early hours to stop anger and tempers escalating while also seeking solutions to the underlying problems.[9]
Evans was the president of the board of trustees for a foundation that oversaw the setting up of the black cultural center in the Martin Luther King Center in Market Street, Wilmington.[2]
He died May 19, 1984, aged 50, and was survived by his wife and three children.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "Raymond T. Evans Birthday". The News Journal. August 14, 1984. p. 13. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Obituary for Raymond T. Evans". The News Journal. May 20, 1984. p. 26. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Evans Seeking Re-election". The News Journal. June 28, 1968. p. 16. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams: U.S. Senator from Delaware (PDF). ISBN 9780874137132.
- ^ "Evans says he'll fast until the Assembly acts". The Morning News. April 15, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b "Evans Walks Out. Mrs Boyer In". The News Journal. August 8, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ a b "Shots From Car Hits Evans' Store". The News Journal. June 19, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ "Evans Named Special Aide To Haskell". The News Journal. November 27, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
- ^ "Ray Evans is overlooked city hero". The Morning News. August 5, 1969. p. 14. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
