OBITUARY

FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum College mourns the loss of Edgar Eugene "Gene" Evans Jr., who passed away on October 9. He is survived by his children, JD Evans, Kimberly Evans Sasser and spouse Gene Sasser, and Lori Evans and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Evans served nine years at Ferrum, during which time he spent time as Athletic Director, head baseball coach, head men's basketball, head men's volleyball club coach and assistant football coach. He also served as Ferrum's head athletic trainer and Director of Intramural Sports. Evans was part of Ferrum's 1965 football team that went on to win the NJCAA Football National Championship under legendary Head Football Coach Hank Norton.

During the late 1950s through the mid-1960s, Evans was a founding father of Ferrum's earlier men's athletics years, He also was a guiding force in starting Ferrum's women's athletics program through his work with the Women's Athletic Association. Evans taught physical education courses, is credited with starting Ferrum's intramural program and also coached the Ferrum men's volleyball club to a state title in Richmond in the early 1960s.

Evens received the 1966 Ferrum College Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Higher Education. He was selected as Outstanding Recreational Specialist by the Virginia Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, and he received the Pioneer Award as well. He was selected as both Outstanding Education of America and Outstanding Outdoor Education Instructor-Consultant.

Ferrum inducted Evans into the Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. Additionally, a monument honoring Evans' stellar career at Ferrum (pictured here) sits just outside the first base dugout at Panther Field, home of Ferrum's baseball program.

A memorial service for Evans will be held Saturday October 25, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at LaCrosse Methodist Church, located in Lacrosse, Virginia.