Future students entering Davenport Gymnasium might pause to wonder, "Davenport?"

Could the tennis star Lindsey Davenport have gotten her start at EVC? Maybe it has something to do with former Giants great Jimmy Davenport?

Could there be a connection between EVC and the coastal town of Davenport?

Most would be surprised to learn that the gym isn’t dedicated to a former athlete, large donor or even a California beach community.

The gym was dedicated May 8 to retired dean Evonne Davenport.

A dean? Deans are administrators aren’t they?

Deans are the layer between the college administration and the faculty. Back in the day, if you wanted to shut down a campus, first stop was the dean’s office.

Anyone at the dedication ceremony would better understand why there is now a plaque dedicated to Evonne at the entrance to the gym.

It takes a special individual to get a few hundred people out on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon seven years after you’ve retired.

Evonne is that special kind of person.

She wasn’t a typical dean, passing down edicts from above.

Evonne was so popular with her staff that they showed up at the ceremony -- some driving from out-of-state -- and had nothing but gushing accolades to contribute.

Trying to get any of them to say something the least bit negative about Evonne was tougher than winning a land war in Southeast Asia.

When the idea of dedicating the gym to Evonne was first approached, shortly after her retirement, there was nobody against the idea.

As EVC President Dr. Clay Whitlow said at the ceremony, "Getting a consensus from college administrators just isn’t done."

Evonne gets things done. Never any wasted effort, if she said she’d take care of something, put it on the "done" list.

Look around this beautiful campus; admire some of the better instructors; enjoy the challenging curriculum; make use of the state-of-the-art physical fitness facilities. These are Evonne’s legacy.

Before coming to EVC, she spent the first 15 years of her career at San Jose City College.

"That period seems like the adolescence and young adult phase of my career," Evonne said. "It afforded me the opportunity to find my way, develop my teaching skills and personal interaction with my colleagues."

She became part of EVC before there was an EVC.

Evonne was part of the team that laid the groundwork for the campus, developed the college curriculum and organization, and even approved the architectural plans.

"The move to Evergreen in 1975 seemed like the maturing adulthood of my career," she said. "I had the opportunity to try my wings at many different experiences in the community college, not the least of which was to be part of the planning and development of the beautiful gymnasium and physical education facility."

Some worried when she retired she’d be lost.

They figured if you cut Evonne she would bleed green -- evergreen.

Like those that have finished a job well done, Evonne knew it was time to move on to a new phase in her life.

No looking back; no worries of her legacy will survive.

She laid the foundation and now it was up to her numerous protégés to follow through on the start she gave them.

Evonne retired to golf, volunteer work, travel, and visits with her numerous grand nieces and nephews.

It’s safe to assume Evonne has the Santa Teresa Women’s Golf Club performing just as efficiently as she ran her department at EVC.

She still has numerous friends at EVC. On visits back to the campus you can spot the well-deserved pride of accomplishment etched on her smiling face.

Now she will also have a little memento at the entrance to the gym that lets her know her accomplishments won’t be forgotten.