Dan Evans, former Republican governor of Washington and US senator, dies at 98

SEATTLE — Dan Evans, a preferred three-term Republican governor of Washington state who went on to serve within the U.S. Senate earlier than leaving in frustration as a result of he felt the chamber was too rancorous and tedious, has died. He was 98.

Evans died Friday, in line with the College of Washington, the place he had served as a regent and the place the Daniel J. Evans College of Public Coverage and Governance bears his title.

“Dan Evans was an honorable, independent-minded public servant who put Washington state first and devoted his life to defending and investing within the locations and folks in our state,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray stated Saturday in a press release. “We had been fortunate to have him — and I’ve little question his legacy will reside on for generations to come back.”

Evans was a dominant power in Washington politics for many years and, till present Gov. Jay Inslee, he was the one individual to be elected governor 3 times. In a press release posted to the social platform X, the Democrat stated it was tough to think about one other resident who had such a constructive influence on so many elements of the state.

“All of us, regardless of our occasion, can really feel lucky for the progress he led throughout every of his three phrases as governor,” Inslee stated.

Born in 1925 in Seattle, Evans was a civil engineer earlier than getting into politics. He was elected to the state Legislature in 1956 and gained the governorship in 1964, beating incumbent two-term Democrat Albert D. Rosellini and prevailing in a foul 12 months for his fellow Republicans, one which noticed President Lyndon Johnson soundly defeat the GOP’s Barry Goldwater.

Referred to as a average to liberal Republican, the avid outdoorsman helped add new recreation and park areas within the state and supported clear air and water laws. He created the nation’s first state Division of Ecology, which President Richard Nixon used as a mannequin for the Environmental Safety Company.

Evans additionally unsuccessfully pushed to create a state earnings tax. He opted to not run for a fourth time period.

“His legacy of coming collectively for the higher good, regardless of occasion strains, has impressed and can proceed to encourage public servants and the Evans College neighborhood,” Jodi Sandfort, the varsity’s dean, stated in a press release.

Sandfort recalled a quote from Evans: “Undertaking good issues takes bipartisan effort, as a result of usually what we’re making an attempt to perform isn’t partisan.”

After leaving the governor’s mansion in 1977, Evans stayed in Olympia, serving as president of The Evergreen State Faculty. Evans had helped create the state faculty when he signed an act authorizing the liberal arts school, and as governor he additionally backed founding the state’s neighborhood school system.

He constructed a nationwide profile throughout his time main the state and was the keynote speaker on the 1968 Nationwide Republican Conference. He was talked about as a potential operating mate for President Gerald Ford in 1976. By no means a fan of Ronald Reagan, Evans supported Ford in 1976 and initially backed George H.W. Bush in 1980.

As a preferred Republican in a predominantly Democratic state, it appeared that Evans can be a shoe-in had he determined to run for the U.S. Senate. He steadily spurned such discuss, saying in 1972 that “I don’t like Washington, D.C., very properly … and I couldn’t stand to be within the Senate.”

Nevertheless, in 1983 Democratic Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson died in workplace, and Evans accepted an appointment to serve out his time period. Evans opted to not stand for election in 1988, citing the “tediousness of getting selections made.” On the time he stated he was wanting ahead to returning residence to benefit from the open air.

In later years Evans served as a regent on the College of Washington, his alma mater. He additionally served on many nonprofit and company boards.

“Dad lived an exceptionally full life,” his sons — Dan Jr., Mark and Bruce Evans — stated in a press release quoted by The Seattle Times. “Whether or not serving in public workplace, working to enhance increased training, mentoring aspiring public servants … he simply stored signing up for stuff proper till the tip. He touched lots of lives. And he did this with out sacrificing household.”

Evans’ spouse, Nancy Bell Evans, died in January at age 90.