William W. Evans
Encyclopedia
William W. "Moon" Evans (c. 1908 – August 18, 1963) was an American attorney, Marine Corps
officer, and athlete. He played college football
, basketball
, and lacrosse
at the University of Maryland
. In lacrosse, Evans led the nation in scoring in 1929 and 1930. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1966 and the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1983.
, he attended the Business High School in Washington, D.C.
and graduated in 1926. He went on to college at the University of Maryland
. In football
, Evans received a freshman letter in 1927, and varsity letter
s in 1928, 1929, and 1930. He was a quarterback in Curley Byrd
's pass-oriented version of the double-wing formation. In 1929, Evans was one of "the heroes of Maryland's dramatic finish" in which it tied a heavily favored squad, 13–13. An "intricate triple pass" from Evans to Shorty Chalmers
to Boze Berger
scored the game's final points in the closing minutes to ensure the stalemate.
Evans also starred on the Maryland lacrosse team. He received a freshman letter in 1927, and varsity letters in 1928, 1929, 1930. He served as the team captain in 1930. In 1929, Evans scored 37 goals, which made him the nation's leading scorer, and he earned that title again the following year. He was named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
All-America first team
at the "in home" position in 1929, and the "out home" position in 1930. According to his National Lacrosse Hall of Fame biography, Evans was considered the best all-around lacrosse player of his time and the best player of the decade. In basketball
, Evans received a freshman letter in 1927, and varsity letters in 1928, 1929, 1930. He was the team captain during the 1929–1930 season.
Evans was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa
honor society and the Kappa Alpha Order
. He graduated from Maryland in 1930 with a Bachelor of Arts
degree, and was voted the "Best Senior Athlete", finishing ahead of Julius J. Radice
and Albert Heagy. Evans continued his postgraduate studies at the school in 1931.
for the Baltimore
club in the Box Lacrosse League, and led his team to an undefeated record as its highest scorer. He finished his graduate studies at the George Washington University
Law School, from which he received a Bachelor of Laws
degree in 1934. In 1935, he began practicing law in Rockville, Maryland
. In 1942, Evans enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
and fought in the Battle of Peleliu
and Battle of Okinawa
. After the war, he resigned from the military with the rank of captain, and returned to practicing law in Montgomery County, Maryland
until his death in 1963.
Evans died on August 18, 1963 at his home in Norbeck, Maryland
. He was inducted into the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1961. Evans was posthumously inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1966, and into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1983.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
officer, and athlete. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
, basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
, and lacrosse
Field lacrosse
Field lacrosse, sometimes referred to as the "fastest sport on two feet," is a full contact outdoor men's sport played with ten players on each team. The sport originated among Native Americans, and the modern rules of field lacrosse were initially codified by Canadian William George Beers in 1867....
at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. In lacrosse, Evans led the nation in scoring in 1929 and 1930. He was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1966 and the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
in 1983.
College career
Evans was a native of Chevy Chase, MarylandChevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
, he attended the Business High School in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and graduated in 1926. He went on to college at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
. In football
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
, Evans received a freshman letter in 1927, and varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
s in 1928, 1929, and 1930. He was a quarterback in Curley Byrd
Curley Byrd
Harry Clifton "Curley" Byrd was an American university administrator, educator, athlete, coach, and politician...
's pass-oriented version of the double-wing formation. In 1929, Evans was one of "the heroes of Maryland's dramatic finish" in which it tied a heavily favored squad, 13–13. An "intricate triple pass" from Evans to Shorty Chalmers
George V. Chalmers
George V. "Shorty" Chalmers was an American college athlete. He served as the quarterback of the University of Maryland football team from 1929 to 1931. Chalmers also played basketball and baseball at Maryland...
to Boze Berger
Boze Berger
Louis William "Boze" Berger was an infielder who played for the Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox...
scored the game's final points in the closing minutes to ensure the stalemate.
Evans also starred on the Maryland lacrosse team. He received a freshman letter in 1927, and varsity letters in 1928, 1929, 1930. He served as the team captain in 1930. In 1929, Evans scored 37 goals, which made him the nation's leading scorer, and he earned that title again the following year. He was named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association
The United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association is an association of institutions with varsity college lacrosse programs in all three NCAA divisions, founded in 1885.-Awards:...
All-America first team
USILA All-American Team
The USILA All-American Team is an honor given annually to the best American men's college lacrosse players at their respective positions by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. The term All-American is derived from the same practice in American college football, in which the...
at the "in home" position in 1929, and the "out home" position in 1930. According to his National Lacrosse Hall of Fame biography, Evans was considered the best all-around lacrosse player of his time and the best player of the decade. In basketball
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
, Evans received a freshman letter in 1927, and varsity letters in 1928, 1929, 1930. He was the team captain during the 1929–1930 season.
Evans was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
honor society and the Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order
Kappa Alpha Order is a social fraternity and fraternal order. Kappa Alpha Order has 124 active chapters, 3 provisional chapters, and 2 commissions...
. He graduated from Maryland in 1930 with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree, and was voted the "Best Senior Athlete", finishing ahead of Julius J. Radice
Julius J. Radice
Dr. Julius John Radice was an American physician and athlete. He played college football, basketball, and baseball at the University of Maryland. Radice was inducted into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.-Biography:...
and Albert Heagy. Evans continued his postgraduate studies at the school in 1931.
Professional career
In 1932, he played box lacrosseBox lacrosse
Box lacrosse, also known as indoor lacrosse and sometimes shortened to boxla, LAX or simply box, is an indoor version of lacrosse played mostly in North America. The game originated in Canada, where it is the most popular version of the game played in contrast to the traditional field lacrosse game...
for the Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
club in the Box Lacrosse League, and led his team to an undefeated record as its highest scorer. He finished his graduate studies at the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
Law School, from which he received a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degree in 1934. In 1935, he began practicing law in Rockville, Maryland
Rockville, Maryland
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It is a major incorporated city in the central part of Montgomery County and forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The 2010 U.S...
. In 1942, Evans enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and fought in the Battle of Peleliu
Battle of Peleliu
The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II, was fought between the United States and the Empire of Japan in the Pacific Theater of World War II, from September–November 1944 on the island of Peleliu, present-day Palau. U.S...
and Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
. After the war, he resigned from the military with the rank of captain, and returned to practicing law in Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland, situated just to the north of Washington, D.C., and southwest of the city of Baltimore. It is one of the most affluent counties in the United States, and has the highest percentage of residents over 25 years of age who hold post-graduate...
until his death in 1963.
Evans died on August 18, 1963 at his home in Norbeck, Maryland
Norbeck, Maryland
Norbeck is the area of Montgomery County, Maryland around Norbeck Road east of Georgia Avenue to Layhill Road.A museum in Sandy Spring, Maryland provides the information that Norbeck is the:Southwestern outpost of the greater Sandy Spring neighborhood [and] put down roots as a free-black community...
. He was inducted into the Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1961. Evans was posthumously inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1966, and into the University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame
The University of Maryland Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 by the M Club Foundation to honor student-athletes, coaches, and administrators who made significant contributions to athletics at the University of Maryland...
in 1983.