People with The Right Stuff take on a challenge and triumph over obstacles. Or they suddenly, unexpectedly find themselves in a difficult situation and rise to the occasion quietly and competently. They demonstrate what a single person can accomplish if she or he has The Right Stuff.
And the third Right Stuff Award goes to Daniel J. Evans of Seattle
Maybe it’s because of the bitter, partisan fighting in Congress lately or because I’ll soon be leaving Washington State, but lately I’ve been thinking about one of the state’s most respected and liked people. He is Daniel J. Evans, dubbed Mr. Washington by the University of Washington (UW) alumni magazine.
His career
Dan Evans has served as a representative in the state House of Representatives, President of Evergreen State College, Governor three times, U.S. Senator after the death of Senator Henry (Scoop) Jackson in 1983, on the UW Board of Regents, and, currently, as Chairman of the UW Foundation Board.
His qualities
During his many years of public service, Dan Evans has been known and admired for his effectiveness, practicality, reasonableness, integrity, and just plain decency. According to his press secretary, Dan Evans often said,
There aren’t Republican solutions or Democratic solutions. There are the best solutions. That’s what I’m looking for.
But his five years in the U.S. Senate left him disillusioned and disheartened. And as his term drew to a close, he chose not to run again. In the article, ”Why I’m Quitting the Senate,” published in the New York Times Magazine in April, 1988, he explained
I have lived through five years of bickering and protracted paralysis. Five years is enough.
But he did run again
In November, 2006, Dan Evans did something which showed that he had the Right Stuff in abundance. He speed-walked the Seattle Half Marathon to raise money for a new scholarship program at the UW.
To kick things off, he sent out an email marked Urgent to over 35,000 recipients. It said,
I’ve decided to run again….Please contribute to my campaign!
He then stated his goals in terms of the money to be raised and the time to cross the finish line.
Daniel J. Evans, then aged 81 and walking with two knee replacements, met both his goals. He raised more money than his target of $100,000 (of which the UW would match $50,000) and finished in less time than his target of 3 hours and 40 minutes.
That’s public service. Dan Evans is the best!
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Politics aside, this man deserves the Right Stuff award! There are people people less than half his age who would never dream of doing what he did at his age, or would never get behind an honorable cause. To be charitable and have fun while doing it — we should all be so lucky. Thanks for letting us know aobut this remarkable act of courage and determination.