A Personal Tribute to Governor Dan Evans

Dear Colleagues and Huskies Alumni,

Learning over the weekend and headlining this morning in our UW Today, it is with a heavy heart and tears that I write this note on the passing of Huskies Alumnus and former Governor Daniel Evans. His legacy is one that has profoundly touched many lives, including my own.? As many of us already knew of Governor Evans’ contributions to public service and higher education, including institutions bearing his name, including the University of Washington.? Governor Evans’ accomplishments were numerous and far-reaching. He was instrumental in the creation of the state community college system and the establishment of The Evergreen State College, significantly expanding access to higher education in Washington. His strong advocacy for environmental protection led to initiatives that preserved our natural resources and promoted sustainable practices. Even after his tenure as governor, he continued to serve the public as a U.S. Senator, working on critical issues such as environmental policy and public health. ?Please let me share with you an important aspect of Governor Evans’ legacies that impacted my personal life and some of us may not know about.?

Governor Evans was a beacon of hope and compassion, especially for refugees from Southeast Asia. His unwavering commitment to humanitarian efforts and ethical leadership provided a safe haven for countless families, including mine. His actions were not just political decisions but profound acts of kindness that changed the course of our lives. Toward the end of the 70’s into early 8o’s, due the crippling sanctions of the United States and a regional conflict among China, Cambodia and Vietnam, resulted in additional millions dying from the Khmer Rouge and the mass exodus on open seas flooding hundreds of thousands onto other SE Asian countries.? A humanitarian crisis sparked and begged the questions around what the appropriate and humane responses from the free world were, including the United States.? Initially, due to the leadership of the First Lady and President Carter, the U.S. began to authorize for the resettlement of thousands of refugees from Southeast Asia in the United States.? The leftover anti-war sentiments and rising ignorant and fear-mongering anti-immigrant rhetoric permeated throughout the country - such as these refugees were backward, couldn’t integrate, take jobs from Americans and – yes- they ate dogs and cats!

Famously during that time, Governor Gerry Brown of California adamantly rejected and vowed not to allow a single SE Asian refugee into the state.? But not Governor Evans!? Despite very loud objections and political pressures, he instructed our state agencies to accept and resettle thousands and thousands of refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, first to Camp Murray and then throughout communities around our state.? My family was one of those refugees from Vietnam!? It goes without saying that if it were for President Carter and Governor Evans, my family and I wouldn’t have the opportunities to escape persecutions, start a new life, and give back to this wonderful country of ours.? I wouldn’t have the opportunities to serve in the United States Army and dedicate most of my professional life through public service.?

A couple of decades later, I had the honor of meeting Governor Evans while working as a staffer for a member of Congress here in Washington. That encounter remains one of the most impactful moments of my life and career.? I finally had a chance to personally expressed my sincere gratitude for his leadership on the behalf of my family.? ?His qualities as a servant leader, ethical leader, and caring human being were evident in every word he spoke and every action he took. He left an indelible mark on me, inspiring me to strive for the same level of integrity and compassion in my own life.

The University of Washington is known for nurturing servant leaders who are dedicated to making the world a better place. Governor Evans embodied these values and principles throughout his life, serving as a role model for all of us who walked the same halls.? For me, this incredible institution is never just a place for young adults to come and learn necessary skills to get living wage jobs and pursue successful careers.? It’s a place to cultivate ethical and servant leaders, not just for our state but for the country and for the world!? That’s why I am so, so proud and so happy to have recently started as a member of staff, managing the Veterans and Military Community Program at UW Bothell.?

As we mourn his passing, let us also celebrate the incredible legacy he leaves behind. Governor Evans’ life was a testament to the power of compassion, ethical leadership, and the enduring impact one person can have on the world.

My family and I will miss you, Governor Evans!?

A Grateful Alumnus and Fellow Citizen – Linh Thai