Former Governor John Evans Passes Away

Former Idaho Governor John Evans Sr. passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 89 at his home in Boise.
Evans, a life long Democrat, became governor in 1977 after then-Democratic Gov. Cecil Andrus resigned to take over as Secretary of the Interior for President Carter. He was elected governor in 1978 and re-elected in 1982.
Evans was born on Jan. 18, 1925 in Malad, and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war he attended Stanford University and graduated in 1951.
In 1952 Evans was elected to the state senate and won re-election in 1954 and 1956. Evans also served as mayor of Malad City from 1960-1966. In 1968, he returned to the state senate and served as minority leader from 1969-1974.
Evans was elected lieutenant governor in 1974 and served in that post until he took over for Andrus as governor in 1977.
A spokesman for Governor Otter says Evans' body will lie in state at the Idaho Capitol on Friday. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday.