John V. Evans

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John V. Evans
John V. Evans

In office
January 23, 1977 – January 4, 1987
Lieutenant William J. Murphy (1977)
Phil Batt (1979)
David H. Leroy (1983)
Preceded by Cecil D. Andrus
Succeeded by Cecil D. Andrus

In office
January 6, 1975 – January 24, 1977
Governor Cecil D. Andrus
Preceded by Jack M. Murphy
Succeeded by William J. Murphy

Born January 18, 1925 (1925-01-18) (age 83)
Malad City, Idaho
Political party Democratic
Spouse Lola Evans
Profession Banker
Religion The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

John Victor Evans, Sr. (born January 18, 1925 in Malad City, Idaho) was Governor of Idaho from 1977-87. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Evans was elected to the Idaho Senate in 1952 and re-elected in 1954 and 1956, serving as majority leader in his final term. In 1960, Evans became mayor of Malad City and served in that capacity until 1966. He returned to the state senate in 1968 and served as minority leader from 1969-74.

Evans was elected lieutenant governor in 1974. He became governor in January 1977 when Cecil D. Andrus accepted an appointment to become the Secretary of the Interior in the Carter administration.

Evans finished Andrus' term and was elected governor in his own right in 1978, defeating Republican state representative Allan Larsen. Evans was the first (and to date, only) Mormon to win election as governor in Idaho. He was re-elected in 1982, defeating Republican lieutenant governor Phil Batt.

Evans ran for the U.S. Senate in 1986, but was narrowly defeated by Republican incumbent Steve Symms. He was succeeded as governor by Andrus. Evans became president of the Idaho-based D.L. Evans Bank in January 1987.

Evans currently lives in Burley.

Preceded by
Jack M. Murphy
Lieutenant Governor of Idaho
January 6, 1975–January 24, 1977
Succeeded by
William J. Murphy
Preceded by
Cecil D. Andrus
Democratic Party nominee, Governor of Idaho
1978 (won), 1982 (won)
Succeeded by
Cecil D. Andrus
Preceded by
Cecil D. Andrus
Governor of Idaho
January 24, 1977–January 5, 1987
Succeeded by
Cecil D. Andrus
Preceded by
Frank Church
Democratic Party nominee, U.S. Senator (Class 3) from Idaho
1986 (lost)
Succeeded by
Richard H. Stallings
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