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Higher Office(s) Served: Senator

Military Service: Navy

War(s) Served:  World War II; Korean War

DANIEL JACKSON EVANS was born in Seattle, Washington. He received a bachelor's degree in 1948 and a master's degree in 1949, both from University of Washington. Evans served as a Naval officer in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. During the Korean War, he served as an Admiral's aide at the peace negotiations at Panmunjom. In 1953 Evans was discharged as Lieutenant, Senior Grade. He served as a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 1956 to 1964, where he was House Minority Leader from 1960 to 1964. he was elected Governor of Washington State in 1964 and reelected two times. As governor, Evans championed legislation that created the state community college system, but his most important accomplishments were in protecting the environment. A major bond issue helped preserve precious land and added new recreation and park areas statewide. A special legislative session in 1970 produced a remarkable set of bills to produce cleaner air and water, restore the landscape following strip mining, protect endangered lands, and create the nation's first department of ecology. During his tenure, Governor Evans served on the National Governors' Conference Executive Committee from 1966 to 1967 and from 1973 to 1975. He served as president of Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, from 1977 to 1983. On September 8, 1983, Evans was appointed by the governor to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Henry M. Jackson. He was subsequently elected by special election as a Republican on November 8, 1983, to complete the term and served from September 8, 1983 to January 3, 1989. In 1991 University of Washington renamed its Graduate School of Public Affairs after the former governor and alumnus.

Sources:

Official Records at Washington State Archives, 1965-1978, 500 cubic feet.

Personal papers at Washington State Archives, 1945-1997, 22.5 cubic feet.

U.S. Senate papers, 1984-1988, 180 cubic feet.

Pacific Northwest Power Planning Council papers, 1981-1983, 26 cubic feet.

List of finding aids available at the Division of Archives and Records Management, Office of the Secretary of State. Available in hard copy: Guide to the Papers of the Governors of Washington, Volume 5: 1965-1977—Governor Evans.

The Evergreen State College, College Presidents' Papers, 1977-1983.

Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress

Governors of the American States, Commonwealths and Territories, National Governors Association, 1980.

Seattle Post Intelligencer

Washington State Library: Governors of Washington State