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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Rosita Youngblood |
  
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Youngblood introduces resolution honoring the life of Samuel L. Evans
Phila. lawmaker says Evans was a prolific Philadelphia political, civil rights leader
HARRISBURG, June 25 – Members of
the state House today unanimously adopted a resolution (H.R. 821) introduced by state Rep. Rosita
Youngblood, D-Phila, honoring the life and achievements of Mr. Samuel L. Evans,
a dynamic contributor to Philadelphia's entertainment industry who later became
a leading political and civil rights activist in the city.
Youngblood said although Evans was never elected to public office, he was an influential member of the Philadelphia community for more than 70 years. He brought notable world-class musicians to the city's Academy of Music, and later founded anti-violence and youth mentoring programs. He also organized Philadelphia's 43,000-member contingent that joined Rev. Martin Luther King's historic 1963 march on Washington, D.C. Earlier in his life, Evans was jailed briefly in the 1930s for picketing North Philadelphia stores that refused to hire African Americans and for protesting Nazi activism in his community.
Evans passed away on June 13 at the age of 105. Youngblood said with his passing, the city of Philadelphia has lost one of its most influential and revered citizens.
"Mr. Evans was an extremely important member of the Philadelphia community and he will be sorely missed," Youngblood said. "He was an extremely influential and powerful man who made an impression on generations of city leaders, earning the nickname 'Godfather' among his fellow black civil leaders in Philadelphia.
"He never lost his will to make a difference, and he never compromised his view that he could change the political and civil standards in our city," she said. "He is an inspiration and someone who should serve as a role model to all young Philadelphians."
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