One of the first African-American graduates of Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Edward Evans was the long-time president of Prairie View A&M in Texas. In fact, Dr. Evans’ tenure at Prairie View would last 58 years. He became the first black veterinarian to be licensed in the state of Texas and he served Prairie View in any number of capacities including director of athletics, director of the School of Arts and Sciences and president (1947-66).
One of Dr. Evans’ students at Prairie View was Frederick Douglass Patterson. He encouraged Patterson to further his veterinary studies at Iowa State and the two collaborated for years. This included the two working to create the School of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee Institute, where Dr. Patterson was president.
In addition to his Prairie View duties, Dr. Evans served as consultant and advisor to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States and the Point Four Program for Pakistan, Egypt and Ethiopia.
After retired, Dr. Evans remained active in the Prairie View community where he died in July of 1976.
Learn more about Edward Evans.
