Beech Tree News Network

“He was a teacher, he was a coach, he was a mentor and a volunteer,”  said Morgantown Mayor Linda Keown in part of her opening remarks as the city unveiled a new street sign for the drive leading up to the ball fields at the Charles T. Black Park Saturday afternoon. It was a time of remembrance, celebration, dedication and stories.

There were a lot of stories.

Several people who knew Coach Evans during one of his roles in life, told of their connection to him. Those choosing to speak included Mary Alice Black, Ed Russ, Jason Jones, Jason Scott, Charlie Felty, T.J. Howard, city council members Sharon Phelps, Terrell House, Russell Givens, Gary Southerland and Mayor Keown.

From information supplied by the family,  Mayor Keown stated that Coach Evans worked at the city park from around May 1980 to January 2010 starting as supervisor of summer youth. He was involved at the park during the construction of the fields, helping lay them out.  He was the high school baseball coach from 1982 to 1989, having coached the first high school baseball game on the big field at the park about 1984.

The plaque presented to him just about says it all. It reads, “ Presented to Lewis Evans for your commitment to coaching and to the influence to many young lives teaching them more than just sports.” Asked for comment by the mayor, Coach Evans replied,” I just appreciate this and you’ll never know how much I appreciate this.”

Story and photos by Roger Southerland, Beech Tree News