David Stanley Evans

David Stanley Evans, 88, of Austin died Sunday, November 14, 2004. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Betty Evans, his brother Arthur Evans of Cardiff, Wales, his sons, Barnaby Evans of Austin, and Jonathan Evans of Nashville, Tennessee, and their children. He was a distinguished Astronomer, with a scientific career that spanned five continents and nearly 70 years. He was born in Cardiff, Wales in 1916, and went to King’s College, Cambridge in England on an academic scholarship. He received the Tyson Medal for Astronomy at Cambridge in 1937, and earned his M.A. and PhD in 1941. He spent eight years as a research assistant at Oxford University Observatory, and then served at the Radcliffe Observatory in Pretoria, South Africa, and the Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope, in South Africa. He brought his family to Austin in 1968 from Cape Town, and joined the University of Texas as a Professor of Astronomy, and Associate Director of McDonald Observatory. He was the Jack S. Josey Centennial Professor from 1977-86, until he retired. His scientific accomplishments are too numerous to list here, and he authored many books and articles on astronomy and the history of astronomy. His family, friends, colleagues and students knew him for his scientific ability, exactness, kindness, generosity, eloquence and humor. He was a good husband and father. All who knew him will miss him dearly. A memorial gathering will be held at 4pm, Thursday, November 18, 2004, at the University of Texas Campus Club, 405 W. 25th Street in Austin. Memorial contributions may be made to the McDonald Observatory, 1 University Station C1402, Austin, TX 78712-0659. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, TX 78705 - (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at wcfish.com