Joseph Evans was born on March 6, 1933, in Cherokee County, Texas, to Herman Ray and Ruby Leighton Scates Evans. He graduated from Troup High School, played football, basketball and baseball, ran track, where he qualified for the state track meet in the mile his senior year. Mr. Evans attended Kilgore Junior College and then Stephen F. Austin State University on a track scholarship and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees. He was also the conference champion in the 800 meters and ran on the mile relay, which became his favorite event along with the hurdles. He married Mary Ann Hicks on Sept. 6, 1953, in Nacogdoches. He was an educator and coach for over 64 years spanning 7 decades before his retirement. He coached in Rusk, Hull-Daisetta, Orangfield, Anahuac, Barbers Hill, East Chambers, and Tatum. He coached in 5 state championship football games. One in 1961 in Hull-Daisetta, one in 1976 in Barbers Hill, three in Tatum
from 2005 thru 2007, and winning the 1976, 2005, and 2006 state championships in football. Joe's track teams at Anahuac won over 30 invitational track meets in a row including a number of district championships. He was a part of 3 state championships in track at Tatum as well. His favorite events to coach were the hurdles, shot put, and discus. Over 12 years in Tatum, he had 9 state champions in the 110 and 300 hurdles which include the 110 and 300 hurdle state records. Joe, along with his son, also coached a 3-time state champion in Beckville, Texas, the last 2 years of his life from his assisted living home in Henderson. He was the oldest coach to ever coach in the prestigious Texas High School Coaches Assocation All-Star football game. Joe has been inducted into the Southeast Texas Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was the recipient of the Article of the Year in the coach's magazine thru the Texas High School Coaches Assn. The Texas High School Coaches Assn. also honored him by giving him the Tom Landry Award, one of the highest honors to be given to a coach. Joe taught math and Sunday school everywhere he coached. He was especially fond of the 1979-1980 football teams at Barbers Hill where he was the head football coach and athletic director. Joe answered to many names throughout his long career in coaching including Uncle Joe, Coach Joe, Papa Joe, and Daddy Joe, but he is the real Coach Evans. His greatest achievement was that he impacted the lives of everyone he came into contact with. Joe loved his family dearly and enjoyed spending time with them at family meals and fishing at the lake where his grandchildren called him Daddy Joe. He moved to Tatum from Anahuac, TX in 2005. Joe was a former member and deacon of the First Baptist Church in Anahuac and was a member and deacon emeritus at the First Baptist Church in Tatum. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Scott Andrew Evans, and sister Patsy Ray Smith.