University at Buffalo (UB)
Release Date: March 26, 2009 This content is archived.
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A scholarship established by the University at Buffalo Alumni Association in 2007 was renamed in honor of Willie R. Evans, Ed.B. '60, during the association's awards ceremony on March 20.
Evans was a member of the 1958 UB Bulls football team that turned down an invitation to appear in the Tangerine Bowl because Evans and another black teammate were not allowed to play alongside white players.
His contributions to UB go well beyond the athletic field, however. Evans has been involved with the UB Alumni Association since 1972, serving in a number of capacities including board president in 1981-82. He remains on the board today as a special advisor.
In addition, Evans is a key volunteer for UB's government relations office, advocating for the university's strategic plan, UB 2020. He served as interim associate vice president for alumni relations from May-December 2008 and was also a member of the search committee that selected both President John B. Simpson and Athletic Director Warde Manuel. Evans is a longtime member of the Blue and White Club, which provides support to UB athletics, and is a past recipient of the alumni association's Distinguished Alumni Award and Community Leadership Medal.
"When we think of the term 'legacy,' we think of the concept of family, of maintaining a connection and handing down something valuable," said Marc A. Adler, M.A. '83, MBA '82 and B.A. '79, president of the UB Alumni Association, during the presentation to Evans on March 20. "And that is exactly what the Legacy Scholarship represents: a past replete with role models whose commitment to and love for UB are long-term, and, in some cases, historic. Willie Evans is a gentleman who embodies those characteristics. His involvement with the university spans decades, his quiet nature masks his dogged determination and his wise counsel is a blessing to us all. His legacy, we hope, will be passed down through this scholarship."
The Willie R. Evans UB Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship assists currently enrolled UB students who are children or grandchildren of UB alumni who contribute to the growth and enrichment of the university through active membership and participation in the Alumni Association. The first two legacy scholarships were awarded in October 2008 during Homecoming weekend. Applications for the scholarship may be found online at http://www.alumni.buffalo.edu/scholarship.