Ann and Hugh '49 Evans

When Ann Gullberg met Hugh Evans '49—he was her blind date at a fraternity costume party in January 1949—he'd already experienced years of danger and adventure. In the mountains near Fort Hale, Colo., Hugh had taken part in rigorous winter training exercises designed to prepare him for service in the 10th Mountain Division. This World War II division countered German forces on snow-packed mountains. He earned a Silver Star for his actions in a grueling battle at Mount Gorgolesco, Italy.

After his discharge, Hugh enrolled at Mines Foundation in mining engineering where he thrived in the collegiate environment. He was a member of the Blue Key Honor Society, choir, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Tau Beta Pi Honor Fraternity and ROTC. He loved singing, so he resurrected the Mines Foundation Glee Club.

Within a year, Ann and Hugh were engaged, and they soon embarked on the adventure of marriage. Altogether, Hugh spent 57 years in the mining industry before retiring in 2006.

For more than half a century, the Evans have remained committed to Mines Foundation. Hugh served on the Board of Trustees for eight years, and the couple has given generously to the university since 1977. In 1994, they set up a charitable remainder trust to benefit Mines Foundation and the Anchor Center for Blind Children. Recently, they decided to accelerate their gift to Mines Foundation by relinquishing a portion of their charitable remainder trust and their pooled income fund.

These gifts created the Hugh W. & Ann G. Evans Endowment for Mining Engineering and the Tenth Mountain Division Scholarship to support the Board of Trustees Honor Scholarships. A third portion of their gift provided unrestricted support for Mines Foundation.