Richard L. Evans
Richard Louis Evans (March 23, 1906 – November 1, 1971) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) (1953–71); the president of Rotary International (1966–67); and the writer, producer, and announcer of Music and the Spoken Word for forty-one years (1929–71). Evans was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He received Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Utah. There, he joined Pi Kappa Alpha. He may have been best known as the announcer for the weekly Mormon Tabernacle Choir radio broadcast, Music and the Spoken Word: every week, he wrote, produced, and announced the radio broadcasts, including a short inspirational message. Evans's weekly broadcasts spanned from its inception in 1929 until his death in 1971. Evans's voice was familiar to Latter-day Saints as the narrator of various church productions, most notably Man's Search for Happiness. He also introduced the Salt Lake City choir's contribution to Bing Crosby's annual "Christmas Sing with Bing" radio broadcasts during the 1950s, and is heard on the 1956 Decca LP of the same name, which featured the previous year's "Christmas Sing" edition. Evans was ordained an apostle on October 8, 1953, following the death of Albert E. Bowen. Evans was the last LDS Church apostle to sport facial hair while in office,[citation needed] wearing a neatly trimmed mustache until the mid-1960s. Evans died at age 65 on November 1, 1971. The vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from his death was filled by Marvin J. Ashton. Evans was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery. Grave marker of Richard L. Evans (front). Grave marker of Richard L. Evans (back).