Biography of Richard L. Evans
Richard L. Evans was born on 23 March 1906 in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, the youngest of nine children.
His father was killed in an accident when young Richard was only ten weeks old . All his early life he missed a father’s
counsel and arm.
Then, even though he won scholastic, debating, and his high school’s distinguished service awards, and had been editor of the
school paper, he put himself through college by “working all the time” in every job imaginable: raising and selling flowers,
selling magazines and newspapers, having a paper route, dispensing sodas, driving trucks, surveying for the railroad,
making syrup, collecting bad debts, selling woolens, working in printing shops, advertising, and writing! After his
mission he received a Bachelor of Arts English, and a year later a Masters degree in economics from the University of Utah.
At twenty-seven, after having established his course in life, he married Alice Thornley, and
together they raised their four sons, whom he called “the joys of my life.”
Richard Evans was a great American church leader. He was head of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The followers are referred to as Mormons. The Mormons are an influential part
of American society. Visitors to Salt Lake City do not miss Mormon heritage sites.
Evans died November 1 1971, aged 65, but Richard’s spiritual message is routinely
broadcast even now in the United States. He was ordained an apostle on October 8 1953. The other Rotary and ecclesiastical
leader whose message is broadcast is that of Dr. Norman Vincent Peele, the celebrated author of "The Power of
Positive Thinking". In all his public addresses Peele used to mention his pride in Rotary membership.
Likewise Richard Evans was proud to be a Rotarian. He was member of the Rotary Club of Salt Lake City. He came to our District
Conference in 1962 as Special Representative of Rotary International President
Joe Abbey.
Richard Evans was world president of Rotary in 1966-67 and his theme was “A Better World through Rotary.”
At the International Assembly in May 1971 at Lake Placid in New York, as the incoming district governor, I had the
privilege to listen to his inspirational address to the District Governors Nominee (DGNs). He profusely quoted Mahatma Gandhi.
He told the DGNs:
1. The great Indian spiritual leader Mahatma Gandhi when asked for a message said, “My life is my message.” Likewise Governors,
when you go back to your districts, your actions, your letters, your speeches should reflect Rotary’s message.
2. Prepare one good speech and repeat this at your Clubs during your official visits. If you find someone who has been at a
previous meeting and heard you before, do not be embarrassed. It is his misfortune that he is there. Go on with the good speech
you have prepared!
3. Be meticulous, be punctual, be decent particularly with humor, be dignified, be friendly and helpful to all club
leaders. Your bearings and dignity should reflect the message of Rotary.
4. Be prepared, be informed, be clear, be concise, be encouraging – be comfortable – be clean – be convincing – be
natural, be yourself and be contagious!
These were great lessons not only for Rotary governors but anyone aspiring to lead. A great lesson for Rotary speakers.
acknowledgement to the author, BOBBY SRINIVAS As a twenty-one-year-old missionary, he had been associate
editor of Great Britain’s respected mission publication, the Millennial Star. While walking down a Salt Lake City street
after returning home, he decided on the moment to seek employment at KSL radio station. They hired him, and four years
later he was named one of America’s best radio announcers.
Some of Evan's numerous positions of authority -
(1) 1966–67 president of Rotary International (during that year he traveled worldwide speaking to service clubs);
(2) president, University of Utah alumni, and three-term member of the University’s Board of Regents;
(3) a member of the Utah State Board of Higher Education;
(4) recipient at thirty-three of a Distinguished Service Award from the Salt Lake City Junior Chamber of Commerce,
in 1961 of the George Washington Medal of the Freedom Foundation, and of literally dozens of honorary degrees and special honors;
(5) two-term member of the Committee on Medicine and Religion for the American Medical Association;
(6) member of the advisory council of the Civil War Centennial Commission;
(7) weekly columnist for a New York newspaper syndicate, King Features;
(8) member io the "Quoram of the Twelve Apostles" of the Mormon Church;
(9) writer and producer of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "Music and the Spoken Word", A Mormon radio program, for
41 yearsbetween 1930 and 1971;
(10) at his death a director in about a dozen businesses, banks, and financial enterprises.
One of Evans' many famous quotes -
"Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was."
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