The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Hall of Honor
- Induction:
- 2019
Joining a precedent set with the induction of its second class over six decades ago, the Honorable Don Evans becomes only the third chairman of The University of Texas Board of Regents to be inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor. Evans joins Lutcher Stark, who was inducted in 1958 as one of the first eight honorees, and Frank Erwin, who was inducted in 1978. He is being inducted as a university administrator who fills the Hall's charge of being one who has "Brought Credit and Renown" to The University of Texas. Prior to his service as the nation's 34th Secretary of Commerce during the first term of the presidency of George W. Bush, Evans was appointed to the UT Board of Regents by then Governor Bush in 1995. As has been his nature, Evans soon followed in the footsteps of Stark and Erwin. Both were builders who focused on the needs of the greater UT system, and they also saw the value of a strong athletics program at the main campus in Austin. Stark was chairman of the Regents when Texas Memorial Stadium was built in 1924. Erwin was chairman when the stadium's west side upper deck was added in 1971. During his time as a regent, Evans was part of an amazing renaissance in Longhorn Athletics. In 1996, Texas Memorial Stadium underwent a massive remodeling, including the addition of the east side upper deck and suites and the renaming as Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in honor of the legendary former coach. But Evans' most powerful contribution came during his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Regents. During his time from 1997 until he resigned in 2001 and joined the Cabinet of President Bush, he oversaw the beginning of what has been termed perhaps the greatest decade of Longhorn Athletics. That included the hiring of football coach Mack Brown, the beginning of the Texas career of baseball coach Augie Garrido, and the hiring of men's basketball coach Rick Barnes. From 2000-09 under these three coaches, Texas won three National Championships and all three sports made the NCAA postseason every year. The Longhorns also finished in the Top 10 in football seven times and won seven bowl games, appeared in the College World Series six times, reached the 2003 Final Four and advanced to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA men's basketball tournament five times. A native of Houston, Evans received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from UT in 1969. He earned an MBA from the McCombs School of Business in 1973. Evans was at Texas during the glory era of Longhorn football under Darrell Royal and was involved in many campus activities. In 1975, he moved to Midland and started in the oil business working on an oil rig. Ten years later, he was running the company. His close friendship with George W. Bush led him to the White House as a member of the Cabinet and a close adviser to the President. Near the end of the first term of President Bush, Evans chose to step away and return to Texas, and his many energy and business interests. In 2002 he was named Distinguished Alumnus by the Texas Exes, and he has been named to the Red McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame. During his career, he has been a good-will ambassador as an American patriot and diplomat, but he has also never forgotten his roots. Through all his travels and success, he and his family have continued a passion for The University and the Longhorns. Evans' Texas friends are legion, and his unbending loyalty to UT has never wavered.
