John D. Evans

John D. Evans is an American business executive and philanthropist, best known for his role as one of the co-founders of the C-SPAN television network.

Military

Evans served in the US Navy, achieving the rank of lieutenant during his career. He served aboard the aircraft carriers USS America and USS John F. Kennedy, was a television project head in the Navy project SEALAB, and served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations at The Pentagon.

Telecommunications

Evans founded Evans Communications System after his career in the Navy, starting with two radio licenses in Charlottesville, Virginia. In 1972 he became a regional manager of the largest operating region of the predecessor of the Time Warner company, and eventually took the job of chief operating officer for Arlington Cable Partners. As an investor in the company, he helped build the first cable system in the Washington D.C. area.

Evans is perhaps best known for his role in co-founding the public affairs cable network C-SPAN, which put cameras in the halls and legislature of the US Congress to document the legislative work of America's elected officials for the first time. The network came about through a conversation he had with a former navy buddy of his Brian Lamb, who shared his idea of an all-Congress television station with Evans in July 1977. Evans then helped Lamb found and develop the network. Evans' chief occupation at the time was President of Arlington TeleCommunications Corp, as he helped to expand the idea for a more locally oriented network to one that had major access to the halls of Congress. In the 1980s, Evans also became President of Hauser Communications when it acquired Arlington TeleCommunications Corp and changed its name to Arlington Cable Partners, and continued to served on the board of C-SPAN. After being named Chairman of C-SPAN’s Executive Committee (1992-1994), he helped draft a new plan named "C-SPAN 2000" to provide new strategic direction, implemented as Evans was Chairman of the board for C-SPAN itself in the early 1990s. During his tenure as Chairman, C-SPAN was the winner of several Golden Cable ACE awards, a Peabody Award, and a Golden Beacon Award.

By the mid-1980s Evans was serving as chairman and CEO of Evans Telecommunications. He also served on the boards of the National Cable Television Association, the Washington Metropolitan Cable Club, and Falcon Cable Holdings. Since helping to found C-SPAN, Evans has appeared on the network more than 100 times. Today he continues to serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Evans Telecommunications Co, The John D. Evans Foundation, as Founding Director of the National Cable Satellite Corporation and Director of National Cable & Telecommunications Association. He is also on the board of Internet2, a consortium of 221 US Universities operating an 8.8 Terabit capacity research and education network. In 2013, Evans was named as Industry representative to the board of Trustees of the Digital Preservation Network. In 2009 Evans was named Entrepreneur of the Year by Washington & Jefferson College.

In 2005 Evans was invited by Emory University to consult with Emory committees and serve on a Futurist Forum Panel to help Emory develop its strategic plan.

Other Business Activities

Evans bought the Waterford Farm in 1992 and began breeding cattle. He is also an investor and serves on the board of Accelerator Technology Holdings headquartered in Amman, Jordan.

Evans founded the John D. Evans Foundation, which focuses on AIDS and cancer research, environmental issues, education, technological innovation, and the arts. In 1995 Evans was appointed to the board of the Dr. Robert Gallo's Advisory Board for the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. He is also currently a member of the board and Treasurer and Audit & Finance committee Chair International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. At his alma mater the University of Michigan, Evans founded the John D. Evans Fund for Media and Technology in 1997, which among other things supports the John D. Evans Chair in Media Technology. He has served on the boards of the Eisenhower World Affairs Institute and the Hollings Cancer Center. At the University of Michigan, he serves on the external advisory boards of the School of Information, the College of LS&A, and the Center for Global Health. The John D. Evans Center, named for Evans, became the host center for the Wintergreen Performing Arts concert series and music festivals in Virginia.

In 1984, Evans was awarded the National Cable & Telecommunications Vanguard Award for Your Leadership in recognition for his achievements for and contributions of the Cable Television industry.

In 2001 he was awarded the League of African American Women’s annual award for contributions to fighting the AIDS pandemic, and served as the head of The Waterford Project—a multi-university AIDS vaccine research initiative starting in 1999. In July 2001, he was inducted into the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association Hall of Fame in recognitions of his achievements and contributions to advancing cable telecommunications in Virginia.

In 2004, Evans was one of four individuals that year inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame, run by the Virginia Commonwealth University.

His contributions to the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine earned him a lifetime achievement award for public service in 2008. His speech was introduced at the university by former White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolton. In 2009 Evans received the Courage in Business award from the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Evans is the son of Edward S. Evans, Jr, former CEO of Evans Products Company, and grandson of Edward S. Evans Sr, who, in 1926, flew around the world in 28 days setting the world’s record with pilot Linton Wells. John Evans is a graduate of the University of Michigan. He has had vacation homes in Key West and the Wintergreen ski resort in Virginia. He is a long-distance motorcyclist that has taken several cross-European motorcycle tours.