The 1970 Norwich Native Son General William Evans graduated from St. Mary Parochial School and in 1942 from Norwich Free Academy. He was offered a scholarship to Yale University and entered that summer. Later that year he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, which he entered in July 1943 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Air Corps and received a bachelor of science degree in military engineering in June 1946.
His first tactical assignment was with the 20th Fighter Group at Shaw Field, South Carolina in November 1946. At the start of the Korean War in June 1950, he flew P-51 Mustang aircraft with the 35th Fighter-Interceptor Group from Tsuiki Air Field, and Taegu Air Base. Later that year, he was transferred to Headquarters Fifth Air Force at Taegu, where he continued to fly intelligence missions for the headquarters. Before returning to the United States in 1951, he completed approximately 130 combat missions.
He volunteered for Southeast Asia duty in 1966 and was transferred to the Republic of Vietnam in May 1967 as vice commander, and later was commander of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing at Tuy Hoa Air Base.
Before returning to the United States in May 1968, he completed 278 combat missions in the F-100 Super Sabre aircraft. In June 1968, Evans was assigned as assistant deputy director for concepts and operational readiness, Defense Communications Planning Group, Washington, D.C., and in June 1969 he assumed duties as the deputy director.
General William Evans became commander of the Air Force Systems Command, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, in August 1975. He assumed duties as commander, Allied Air Forces Central Europe and commander in chief, United States Air Forces in Europe on July 29, 1977.
Evans passed away in 2000.