Edward “Ed” Evans was a character that could not go unnoticed; he is remembered for his work ethic, mentorship and commitment to his family.

Unfortunately, Ed Evans died on Sept. 3, 2024, at the age of 72 from a brief illness. Ed Evans was the head athletic trainer and the National Collegiate Athletics Association banned substance coordinator at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

Through numerous accomplishments such as forming a part of and helping NSU’s Athletic department and over two decades as NSU’S head athletic trainer, he left an impactful legacy which will be carried on by students, colleagues and family.

“Your dad really had this natural teacher to him,” Christina “Chris” Evans, wife of Ed Evans, said while talking to her children.

Ed Evans’ essence and passion for his job could be seen from miles away. He was a devoted teacher, mentor, father, grandfather and husband.

Chris Evans and Ed Evans moved to Natchitoches, La in 1979. This is where Ed Evans obtained his master’s degree to become an athletic trainer.

However, their story did not start there. Ed Evans and Chris Evans met through mutual friends. At the time, Ed Evans was in the Navy as a hospital corpsman and physical occupational therapy technician. Chris Evans was friends with other Navy members and attended a friend’s cousin’s wedding. It wasn’t until the party after the wedding when the two officially met. They got married nine months after that.

Chris Evans and Ed Evans were married for 49 years and two months before his death, and they are parents to three children: Jonathan Evans, David Evans and Timothy Evans.

All three children were born and raised in Natchitoches, where they got to witness their dad’s success and growth.

“Growing up, we were all born here, and we went to the grade schools of NSU,” Timothy Evans said. “So most of us remember dad as an athletic trainer, and so we’d just walk from whatever school we were at because it was pretty close to where his office was when he was the head trainer.”

Chris Evans explained that Ed Evans was never an academic person. He struggled getting his master’s degree but was able to persevere.

“He just learned how to kind of get it done and then being an athletic trainer all of that is just hands on basically,” Chris Evans said. “He had a natural ability for teaching.”

Originally, Ed Evans dreamt of becoming a physical education coach, which he was able to accomplish for some years at Natchitoches Central High School.

“He was going to be a P.E. football coach, and, instead, when we were at George Southern, he was asked to be the athletic trainer there,” Chris Evans said.

That was what inspired Ed Evans to want to get his masters, Chris Evans explained.

“I did have to help him with his grammar and phrasing on his writing,” Chris Evans laughed as she remembered.

Ed Evans was very family-oriented, so his life was much more than just his professional life. Although he was very dedicated to his job, Ed always made sure to make time for his loved ones.

“He was always home for dinner,” Chris Evans recalled.

Ed Evans also made sure to plan family vacations, especially road trips.

“In my mind, I always sort of thought of him as the road warrior; he could just get in the car and go,” Jonathan Evans said.

The family admitted that they once made it as far as Maine along with visiting California, Colorado, Washington D.C. and many other states.

The Evans’ said some of their most treasured memories with Ed were the ones they made on vacations.

“Growing up, he was always kind of an authority figure. But if you knew him, he was kind of a big softie,” Timothy Evans said.

While being a father was his first priority, he always cared for the athletes he tended to.

“He was doing two jobs at once and trying to be a parent and also trying to do this really important job and make sure the athletes were getting the care they needed and also making sure that his students were doing the job they were supposed to do,” Jonathan Evans said. “It was a lot to take in.”

Kristina Overholt, an assistant director of sports medicine at NSU who worked closely with Ed Evans, said, “he was a big mentor to people.”

Ed Evans mentorship is going to be carried by all students and people he was able to teach and guide.

“My favorite thing was when we would have test days and we would give tests to the students he would either bring in McDonald’s breakfast or his wife’s brownies and he would bring them to us. Test days were the best days,” Overholt said.

Ed Evans had the ability to turn a test day into a happy memory. Ed Evans’ charisma was displayed in actions like these, which is just one of the many traits which will forever be remembered about him.