US Congressman. He was a lifelong resident of Rock Island, Illinois. After serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, he was educated at Augustana College in Rock Island, then trained as a lawyer at Georgetown University. He practiced law for many years in Rock Island. In 1982, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from the 17th Congressional District of Illinois. In his 24 years in office, he was a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and was a major supporter of veterans' interests. In 1995, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In the 2002 election cycle, his Republican opponent, Andrea Zinga, made his illness a campaign issue, a tactic that backfired. Evans won by a large margin. In 2005, his campaign committee settled a Federal Election Commission investigation into allegations of violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act in the 1998 and 2000 election cycles. After winning the 2006 Democratic primary, Evans announced that he would not seek re-election and would retire due to illness at the end of his term. His District Director and close friend Phil Hare took his place in the election and again defeated Andrea Zinga. After his retirement from Congress, Evans lived out the rest of his life in a nursing home in East Moline, Illinois. He died of complications from Parkinson's disease.
US Congressman. He was a lifelong resident of Rock Island, Illinois. After serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, he was educated at Augustana College in Rock Island, then trained as a lawyer at Georgetown University. He practiced law for many years in Rock Island. In 1982, he was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives from the 17th Congressional District of Illinois. In his 24 years in office, he was a founding member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and was a major supporter of veterans' interests. In 1995, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. In the 2002 election cycle, his Republican opponent, Andrea Zinga, made his illness a campaign issue, a tactic that backfired. Evans won by a large margin. In 2005, his campaign committee settled a Federal Election Commission investigation into allegations of violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act in the 1998 and 2000 election cycles. After winning the 2006 Democratic primary, Evans announced that he would not seek re-election and would retire due to illness at the end of his term. His District Director and close friend Phil Hare took his place in the election and again defeated Andrea Zinga. After his retirement from Congress, Evans lived out the rest of his life in a nursing home in East Moline, Illinois. He died of complications from Parkinson's disease.
Bio by: Dustin Oliver
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Cpl USMC
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