Page 8 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2019- Online Magazine
P. 8
Jim Betty Evans
Dancing through
the Decades
by Jane Bromley was transferred to
Dallas when she was
nine. Her parents
ots of couples love to dance, divorced two years
but only a few have had later, so she lived
Lthe same partner for over with her mother
70 years. Jim and Betty Evans of a few blocks from
Lubbock continue to hit the dance downtown. Mrs.
floor frequently, especially if the Johnson worked at
talented Bo Garza is featured. Neiman Marcus for
They enthusiastically follow him 22 years, and Betty’s
wherever he is playing. “Lubbock first job at age 13
is lucky to have him,” they agree. was in the hosiery runner up in the Miss Texas pageant,
91-year-old Jim broke his back in department at that store. They competing as Miss Wichita Falls.
the spring, which slowed him down walked the mile to the store to save She won a TV set in a pageant in
a little, so Betty just dances around the three-cent streetcar fare. She 1949 (two years before I Love Lucy
him. The floor usually clears for also attended Woodrow Wilson debuted) and once won a zither in
them because they are delightful to High School where she was “into a screen test for a Joseph Cotten spy
watch. everything” and had lots of friends. movie. “Do you even know what a
(Up until recently, eight of those zither is?” Betty chuckled.
Jim was born in Dallas in 1928. His friends took annual
grandfather owned a grocery store trips for almost seven The dashing
and let him order school supplies to decades.) WWHS was couple had
sell when he was seven years old. the backdrop for Jim great fun
Jim’s daddy later opened Evans’ and Betty to begin together, and
Clover Farm Grocery in Urbandale, their story together dancing was
near Dallas, and Jim delivered as lifelong dance always a big
groceries on his bicycle every day partners. part of it. They
after school, from fourth grade to reminisced
ninth grade. Learning the grocery Jim graduated in 1946 about the
business early would be a big help and went to North many jitterbug
later in his life. The young man was Texas State in Denton, contests
also an accomplished tap dancer, where he was involved they’d won
performing professionally in various in lots of campus in places like
venues, including USO shows. activities, including the Skyview
After the family moved to Dallas, cheerleading. His and “Abe and
Jim attended Woodrow Wilson girlfriend followed Pappy’s”. They
High School where he was head him two years later. married April
cheerleader and class favorite. The pretty freshman 6th, 1951, and son Bo was born in
was named a NTSC Beauty Queen 1952. Jim graduated with a degree in
Betty was born in Taylor, Texas near that year. She was later crowned Business and soon went to work for
Austin in 1930. Her father worked Texas Queen of her sorority Epsilon Dr. Pepper – traveling all over the
for the Texas Electric Company and Sigma Alpha and was even named country. Daughters Candy and Kim
8 Lubbock Senior Link
