EVANS, Robert 'Bob' L. 1925 - 2012
EVANS, BLANKENSHIP, KIMLER, MOBLEY, HILDEBRANDT
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/20/2012 at 14:02:34
"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, September 17, 2012
Page 8Robert 'Bob' L. EVANS
Robert "Bob" L. EVANS, 87, longtime head football coach of Mount Pleasant Community High School, died Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, at Park Place Long Term Care Unit in Mount Pleasant.
A memorial celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Mount Pleasant with the Rev. Herbert G. Shafer and the Reb. Gary Van Nyhuis officiating. A private family committal service will precede the memorial service at the Forest Home Cemetery (sic - in Mount Pleasant, Henry County, IA) with military honors conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard.
Visitation is today at the church, with family present from 5-8 p.m.
Memorials may be made to a football athletic scholarship at Mount Pleasant Community High School to be named in his honor.
Kimzey Funeral Home in Mount Pleasant is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.kimzeyfh.com.
Mr. EVANS was born Feb. 17, 1925, in Macon, Mo., the son of Elmer and Anna BLANKENSHIP EVANS. He married Winifred KIMLER June 3, 1951, at Christian Church in Atlanta, Mo.
He graduated from Macon High School in 1943.
He was inducted into the United States Navy June 9, 1943 and trained at Farragut, Idaho and Urbana, Ill. He was assigned to U.S. Navy Submarine Base in New London, Conn., and served on the submaries USS Cavalla and USS Bluefish. He was honorably discharged as a fireman first class on March 12, 1946.
He returned home and entered Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State University, in Kirksville, Mo. He graduated with a bachelor's of science degree and was conferred a master's of science degree in 1950.
He came to Mount Pleasant High School in 1950, where he began a career as a physical education instructor and football and basketball coach. He coached varsity boys' basketball from 1953 to 1955, and was named the varsity football coach in 1955. He remained at that position until his retirement as athletic director in the spring of 1989, with a career record of 201 wins, 92 losses and four ties. In 1963, EVANS led the Mount Pleasant Panthers to state football championship with an undefeated, untied and unscored upon record. His record uncluded seven undefeated teams and 17 conference champions. His teams outscored their opponents 6,444 to 3,351.
His awards include: Des Moines Register Coach of the Year, 1959; Iowa Coaches Hall of Fame, 1969; Nation's High School Athletic Coaches Association District 6 Coach of the Year, 1980; National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Association Distinguished Service Award, 1986; Coach of the Year for Southeast 7 Conference 14 times; Southeast Iowa District Class I Coach of the Year, 1984; Northeast Missouri State University Hall of Fame, 1988.
He was assistance (sic - assistant) coach in the 1974 Iowa Shrine Bowl and was head coach in 1975. He was one of the founders and past president of Iowa High School Football Coaches Association. He was a charter member and board member of the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association, and was named to its Hall of Fame in 1990.
He was a color commentator with Frosty Mitchell for the Iowa Sports Network, broadcasting the Iowa Hawkeye Football Games of Big Ten Football.
The football field at the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex was named Bob Evans Field, Aug. 31, 2007. He was the director of development and construction of the Mapleleaf Athletic Complex.
During his tenure as Mount Pleasant Community Schools' athletic director, boys sports added were baseball, golf, wrestling and cross-country; girls sports added were golf, cross country, track, softball, volleyball and basketball.
He also taught drivers education.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mount Pleasant.
He served on the board for the former Henry County Savings Bank and was a past president of the Mount Pleasant Golf and Country Club.
He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Winifred "Kim" of Mount Pleasant; four sons, Charles "Chuck" EVANS and wife Susan of Unionville, Mo., Stanley "Stan" EVANS of Mount Pleasant, Robert G. EVANS of Seattle and Spence EVANS and wife Abby of Ames; one daughter, Kathryn MOBLEY and husband Greg of Albia; six grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Beverly HILDEBRANDT.
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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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