SEATTLE (AP) — Dan Evans, a popular Republican governor of Washington state who served three terms and then in the U.S. Senate but left in frustration because he found the chamber too rancorous and boring, has died. He was 98.
Evans died Friday, according to the University of Washington, where he served as a trustee and where the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance is named in his honor.
“Dan Evans was an honorable, independent-minded public servant who put Washington state first and dedicated his life to protecting and investing in the places and people of our state,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said in a statement Saturday. “We were fortunate to have him — and I have no doubt his legacy will live on for generations.”
Evans was a dominant force in Washington politics for decades and, until current Gov. Jay Inslee, was the only person to be elected governor three times. In a statement on the social media platform X, the Democrat said it was hard to think of another resident who had such a positive impact on so many aspects of the state.
“All of us, regardless of party affiliation, can be fortunate for the progress he has made during each of his three terms as governor,” Inslee said.
Born in Seattle in 1925, Evans was a civil engineer before entering politics. He was elected to the state legislature in 1956 and won the governorship in 1964, defeating the two-term incumbent Democrat Albert D. Rosellini, triumphing in a bad year for his fellow Republicans, a year in which President Lyndon Johnson soundly defeated the GOP’s Barry Goldwater.
Known as a moderate to liberal Republican, the outdoorsman helped add new recreation and parkland to the state and supported clean air and water legislation. He established the state’s first Department of Ecology, which President Richard Nixon used as a model for the Environmental Protection Agency.
Evans also pushed unsuccessfully for a state income tax, and chose not to run for a fourth term.
“His legacy of coming together for the greater good, across party lines, has inspired and will continue to inspire Evans School officials and the community,” Jodi Sandfort, the school’s dean, said in a statement.
Sandfort recalled a quote from Evans: “Achieving good things requires a bipartisan effort, because what we are trying to achieve is often nonpartisan.”
After leaving the governor’s mansion in 1977, Evans remained in Olympia, where he served as president of The Evergreen State College. Evans had helped establish the state school when he signed a bill authorizing the liberal arts college, and as governor he also supported the creation of the state’s community college system.
He built a national profile during his time as state leader, serving as the keynote speaker at the 1968 National Republican Convention. He was mentioned as a possible running mate for President Gerald Ford in 1976. Evans was never a fan of Ronald Reagan, but endorsed Ford in 1976 and initially supported George H. W. Bush in 1980.
As a popular Republican in a predominantly Democratic state, it seemed that Evans would be a sure bet if he decided to run for U.S. Senate. He often dismissed such talk, saying in 1972 that “I don’t like Washington, D.C., very much … and I couldn’t stand being in the Senate.”
However, in 1983, Democratic Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson died in office, and Evans accepted an appointment to serve out his term. Evans chose not to run for reelection in 1988, citing the “tedious burden of decision-making.” At the time, he said he looked forward to returning home to enjoy the outdoors.
In later years, Evans served as a regent at the University of Washington, his alma mater. He also served on numerous nonprofit and corporate boards.
“Dad lived an exceptionally full life,” his sons — Dan Jr., Mark and Bruce Evans — said in a statement cited by The Seattle Times. “Whether he was serving in public office, working to improve higher education, or mentoring aspiring officials … he just kept volunteering for things right up until the end. He touched so many lives. And he did it without sacrificing his family.”
Evans’ wife, Nancy Bell Evans, died in January at age 90.
