Leslie "Les" Evans

Obituary of Leslie "Les" Gilbert Evans

Leslie (Les) Gilbert Evans, 77, beloved husband, father, Papa, and coach passed away on Thursday July 1, 2021.

Coach Evans was born in New Zion, SC on August 9, 1943 to the late Lois Cantey Evans and Gilbert Wesley Evans. Coach Evans is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Janet Keefe Evans; his son, Mike (Kim) Evans; daughter, Cheryl (Brad) Whittle; and grandchildren, Bryce Evans, Sydney Evans, Parker Whittle, and Graham Whittle. He is also survived by his sisters, Linda Swain and Jean (Robin) Robinson.

He played baseball and football at East Clarendon High School and then baseball at the University of South Carolina. He began his teaching and coaching career at Eau Claire High School coaching football, baseball, and basketball. He won a 4A state championship in basketball while at Eau Claire in 1973 and was named region and state 4A Coach of the Year. He then went on to become the head football coach at Eau Claire High School before moving into the head football coach position at Orangeburg Wilkinson High School. In 1976 he became the athletic director and head football coach at Airport High School where he remained for 25 years until his retirement. While at Airport, his teams won six region championships, made 4A playoffs 18 times and were upper state 4A champions in 1981.  Coach Evans was a nine-time region Coach of the Year, two-time Columbia Touchdown Club Coach of the Year, Columbia Record Coach of the Year (1981), WIS Radio Coach of the Year (1983) and six-time Columbia area Coach of the Year. He also served as North-South assistant coach in 1982, and North-South head coach in 1994. He was the South Carolina Shrine Bowl Assistant Coach in 1979, and South Carolina Shrine Bowl Head Coach in 1992. He was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Airport High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004, and the Airport High School Educational Foundation Hall of Fame in 2019. He was also given the Distinguished Coach Award in 2011 by the South Carolina Football Coaches Association.

Even with all his coaching accomplishments he took greater pride in all of the lives he touched during his teaching and coaching career, but his greatest joy in life was the time spent with his family and precious grandchildren. He cherished his time spent with family during family gatherings, and enjoyed fishing trips with his grandchildren, and supporting them at numerous ballgames and cheer competitions.

Les had a deep faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was a long-time member of Springdale Baptist Church where he served as a trustee and chairman of the deacons.

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 5, 2021 from 5:00-7:00pm at Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC. Funeral service will be on Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 3:00pm at Springdale Baptist Church, 357 Wattling Road, West Columbia, SC 29170.

 

Monday
5
July

Visitation

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Monday, July 5, 2021
Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington
4720 Augusta Road
Lexington, South Carolina, United States
803-996-1023
Tuesday
6
July

Funeral Service

3:00 pm
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Springdale Baptist Church
357 Wattling Rd
West Columbia, South Carolina, United States
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Leslie "Les"