EVANS, Dr. Sam

Longtime faculty member and former Chickasha Mayor Sam Evans – who taught here from 1947-80 -- died Sunday in Chickasha. Evans is one of only a handful whose careers spanned all three institutional legacies: the Oklahoma College for Women, the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. He was 93.

Services are scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, for Evans in the McRay Funeral Home Chapel in Chickasha. Leon Dennis will officiate.

Samuel W. Evans was born the son of Arthur T. Evans and August Draper Evans on Oct. 31, 1914, in Earlsboro, Okla. He died March 2, 2008. He married Winnifred L. Robins on Dec. 30, 1937, in Weatherford. She preceded him in death in 2001.

Evans graduated from Tishomingo high School, received his bachelor of arts degree from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, his master of arts degree from Oklahoma State University, and his doctor of education degree from the University of Oklahoma. He taught school in Perry and Blanchard, and then became the dean of Carnegie Junior College. In 1947, he began working at the Oklahoma College for Women (now USAO), where he taught and served various capacities in the administration. In 1964, Evans was selected OCLA Teacher of the Year and Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.

Evans also was active in military, civic and church interests. During World War II, he served in the South Pacific in the Army Signal Corp. The last six months were served with McArthur’s Manila Headquarters in the Philippines. He served 21 years as educational director for Oklahoma Girls State. He was a member of the Southern Historical Association, Pi Gamma Mu, Phi Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi. He served as mayor of the City of Chickasha from 1970-76. Evans also was a member of the Southern Oaks Church of Christ.

Survivors include a brother, Arthur Draper; son Jerry Evans; daughter Robyn Lambrecht and her husband Tom; daughter Sammye Martin and her husband Wayne; grandson Mark Lambrecht and his wife Amy; grandson Brad Lambrecht and his wife Sunny; granddaughter Angela Goerdel and her husband Pete; grandson Douglas Martin and his wife Sarah; grandson Dennis Martin; and eight great-grandchildren: Lainey, Evangeline, Grayson, Charlotte, Aiden, Jack, Patrick and Erica.

Interment will be in the Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of the McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Samuel W. Evans USAO Alumni Scholarship Fund, Hope Harbor Children’s Home or the Tipton Children’s Home.