Former Calion Mayor Karen Evans got an unexpected gift from the community Tuesday evening when city and county leaders unveiled the newly renamed Karen Evans Community Center on Hoover Street.
Community members had gathered at the center for a reception to honor Evans’ more than 50 years of service to Calion, but she had no idea they would be renaming the center in her honor.
“I was knocked out,” Evans said after the ceremony. “It’s more than I deserved and certainly more than I expected.”
Current Calion Mayor Bill Yutzy led the ceremony, which involved several community members telling anecdotes of the different ways she has served Calion. Evans said she was mayor for 14 years, serving a two-year appointment after a former mayor resigned, then getting elected to three additional terms before she decided not to run for re-election last year. Before becoming mayor, Evans served as recorder and treasurer for the City Council.
“We have a beautiful lady that has done a lot for this city,” Yutzy said before unveiling the new sign.
In addition to renaming the community center, Yutzy and members of the City Council presented Evans with a plaque dedicated to her more than 50 years of service to Calion and a framed letter from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, which thanked her for all of her work.
“For 50 years you have been a devoted public servant and brought about positive changes in your community,” Hutchinson’s letter read. “As mayor, you also helped (get) the community center built and there was no better way for the city to express its gratitude than by naming the center after you. When future residents of Calion and visitors to the area gather at the Karen Evans Community Center, they will be reminded of your legacy.”
Several people talked about Evans’ successful efforts to secure grant funding for the community and specifically pointed to the fact that the community center itself was only built thanks to her efforts.
“We didn’t have any place that people could gather,” Evans said of the area before the community center was built. “It’s used a lot by the community … I’m so honored to have my name on it.”
Bill McCordey, a member of the City Council, told a story about how Evans once left a family reunion to represent Calion at a meeting about grant funding that would decide which community received funding.
“As a result, we have another grant,” McCordey said, noting it was for playground equipment. “That’s how dedicated she was.”
Union County Judge Mike Loftin said Evans had done a lot for not only Calion but for the county as a whole. After his remarks, Evans could be heard asking about the condition of a city road as the crowd chuckled in response.
Sherrel Johnson said she remembers being at an economic development luncheon, held by the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce, where all area mayors get up to talk about what’s going on in their community. At that particular luncheon in Norphlet, Johnson said, she recalled other area mayors talking about how they were trying to secure funding for different projects.
“And then (Evans) got up and reported on having completed this thing and that project … and I have never been so proud,” Johnson said.
El Dorado Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer also spoke, thanking Evans for blazing a trail for other women to follow, like Smith-Creer.
Evans said she moved to Calion with her husband shortly after getting married nearly 54 years ago and she has loved serving the community ever since.
“This is my home,” Evans said. “I’m just real proud of this little town. … This community is my family.”
Madeleine Leroux can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].