House Concurrent Resolution 66

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING DR. OWEN "BEV" EVANS UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PEDIATRICS DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER AND FOR HIS LONG RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IN PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL CARE AND SERVICE TO THE CHILDREN OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, Dr. Owen "Bev" Evans, Chairman of the Pediatrics Department at the University of Mississippi Medical Center for 22 years, retired from that position on January 31, 2011, leaving behind a long record of accomplishment in providing exceptional care and service to the children of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, when Dr. Evans moved from Nashville to Jackson in 1983, pediatric care was confined to one wing of UMMC and most Mississippians with critically ill children were forced to travel out of state to receive top-notch care; and

WHEREAS, that situation began to improve after Dr. Evans was named chairman of pediatrics in 1989, and under his leadership, the facilities available for the treatment of children locally began to increase, with the state's only children's cancer clinic opening in 1991 and the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children opening six years later; and

WHEREAS, the growth in children's medical facilities continued throughout Dr. Evans' tenure as chairman, as the Pediatric Surgical Center opened in 2004, followed in 2009 by the Eli Manning Children's Clinic, which offers outpatient services, and a children's emergency department is scheduled to open later this year; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Evans was not only interested in establishing new medical facilities for children, but also in attracting, developing and retaining talented doctors to care for children, so he made it a priority to recruit top pediatric students from around the country who were not only willing to come and study at UMMC but also make a career in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Evans gives credit for this extraordinary growth in children's medical services to many other people whose vision and efforts helped bring them to fruition, but those in the know say that none of it would have happened without Dr. Evans' passion and persistence; and

WHEREAS, during all of his 22 years as head of pediatrics, Dr. Evans did not just let others do the work while he was leading the department, but instead he never stopped treating patients and taking care of children who needed it, gaining him great respect among the other physicians; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Evans was always personally involved in activities to support the children in the facilities, from fund raising with Friends of the Children's Hospital, donating his own paintings for auctioning, and dressing up as Santa Claus on Christmas Eve to give presents to the children at the Batson Hospital; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Evans originated the idea for the Hugs Reunion, which is held each spring for family members of youngsters who were treated at the Batson Hospital but did not survive, because he thought it was important for those families to know that they were not forgotten; and

WHEREAS, after his retirement, Dr. Evans will continue with his clinical practice, work on his golf game, do some writing, tinker with electronics and woodworking, and spend more time with his wife, Lynn, and their two grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Evans' contributions to the medical care of children in Mississippi during his time as chairman of pediatrics have been immeasurable, not only through the phenomenal growth and expansion of the excellent facilities that are now available to treat children locally, but also by leaving a legacy of talented pediatricians that he recruited and encouraged to make their careers in Mississippi to carry on the necessary work of caring for children; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend such selfless and dedicated individuals as Dr. Evans who have committed themselves to the service of others:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Dr. Owen "Bev" Evans upon the occasion of his retirement after 22 years as the Chairman of the Pediatrics Department at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and for his long record of accomplishment in providing exceptional care and service to the children of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Dr. Owen "Bev" Evans, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.