Mid Valley Blogger: TNT at LBCC

It was a babysitter who first brought him to the rickety, smelly, and loud gym. It was in that gym that an Olympic Team boxer was born. That boxer is now at Linn Benton Community College(LBCC) in Albany, Oregon.

It was not an easy path from that boxing gym to LBCC. Along the way was an Olympic boycott, divorce, murder, drugs, crime, prison, religion, and then back to the gym. And college.

His name is George Evans, and he is an LBCC student.

George "TNT" Evans, in the Student Learning Center, Linn-Benton Community College

By the time he turned pro, he had the customary nickname, "TNT", and in the fight game, a name like that is earned. But it started much quieter, in a little town in western Oregon, in the fertile farmlands and sparsely populated Willamette Valley town of Albany.

The babysitter was sick, so her brother was in place. And this fella happened to box a little bit. Not long into the babysitting gig, the substitute sitter asked Evans' mom, if he could take the boys to the gym. Away they went.

"He just took a liking to me," said Evans, about the coach in that boxing gym, "I went back."

And so our story begins, in that gym as a kid, Evans learned to box. He learned it well. There were not many defeats in 483 amateur bouts. Evans was good enough to qualify for the Olympic Trials, and most likely a spot on the United States Boxing Team.

Timing was not on Evans side. The year was 1980, and the Olympic Games were to be in Moscow. Evans probably would have been an alternate, and the chance to possibly compete for gold, but The Cold War would prevent the U.S.A. from going, as the U.S. Government boycotted those games.

Evans turned pro a few years later, rising to 15th in the world rankings. Drugs would get the better of him by the mid 1980's and boxing professionally disappeared from Evans' life.

Things didn't get better, as Evans found himself divorced and monumentally depressed after the murder death of his brother. To say the two were close is the absolute exact description. After his brother's passing, Evans officially descended into the gallows of methamphetamine at that point. And although repeated efforts to change, to quit cooking meth and to quit using, were always on his mind, Evans could not quit.

He went to prison on multiple charges, the time spanning some 90 months. The one-time Olympian who had become a contender as a professional, was now sentenced to prison almost 8 years. The investigations and charges ranged from Possession of Controlled Substance, Delivery, Assault, Burglary, Robbery, and onto Aiding & Abetting. And although Evans did not have suspect to victim contact(Evans drove the getaway car), the sheer involvement was enough to rattle his conscience. He would have plenty of time to think about it.

He would do seven and one half years behind bars.

"It was a blessing."

He told me this while we chatted about family, that it was a blessing he went to prison. "I went in a stupid man and I came out with a faith in the Bible. I came out with faith in studying to be a better man."

Evans has daughters, a step-son, and grandchildren. Those close-knit relationships are rooted deep in Evans' everyday life. He is not lost on the reality of relationships with who he cares about the most. "I lost more than my brother. I lost my fishing buddy, my hunting partner, and a great friend. I'm not losing any more loved ones."

George "TNT" Evans still gets in the ring. He coaches three nights a week in Corvallis, at the Corvallis Boxing Club. The years lost have taught Evans the value in coaching. The mentoring aspect and physical nature of the sport keeps your mind moving fast and alert. Evans is profoundly aware of the benefits of boxing, and even more savvy about life's knockouts. Mentoring is a way to help kids understand that and be prepared for adversity.

Dan Dunn, head coach at Corvallis Boxing, said "I've known George a long time. I have always like him. George is great when he stays hooked to that bible." When I pushed Dunn to elaborate, he put it simply, "Boxing draws an element. George has a talent with them."

Evans as coach.

Back in the "real world", Evans decided to continue the Bible studies, and enrolled at Linn-Benton. And although many classes are entry level classes, Evans welcomes the added and refreshed education. Enrolling at LBCC meant doing things he had not done in many years. Learning to execute basic math and keep up with homework proved a task not as easy as it seems. Evans keeps the balance with a solid and grounded regimen of up early, school and homework, the bible, then the gym, and then finally, back home for dinner and the rest of the homework.

In that role of coach and mentor, Evans instills a studious caring motto to the sermons. Caleb Lau, an Oregon State student and frequent subject of Evans proddings to succeed, had this to say:

"Trust," Lau said, "...he is watching out for me, he tells me, 'Here's what you do to be better', and that is trust."

Evans is enrolled as a general studies student, and hopes to get a Associate Degree, and continue the Bible study and mentoring.

In his quest to better his life, while helping to better others' lives, George Evans has come full circle. Around the world, I said.

"Around the ring," Evans replied, as he walked towards the speedbag.

Photos from the Corvallis Boxing Club: