Richard ‘Dick’ Evers Honored for Community Involvement
First came Mr. Baseball and Mr. October.
Now, there’s Mr. Hicksville.
Very rarely does a namesake become synonymous with a passion or place, but to many members of the community, Richard “Dick” Evers may forever represent the symbol for all things Hicksville.
“He was ubiquitous, everywhere, and he touched a lot of people,” said Kurt Ludwig of the Town of Oyster Bay.
Evers will become a tangible part of Hicksville history as his street sign, “Richard. E. Evers Way,” will be placed at the corners of Frevert Place and 2nd Street, Sterling Place and 2nd Street and Jerusalem Avenue and 2nd Street in Hicksville near the Hicksville Middle School.
On June 22, the Town of Oyster Bay and Town Supervisor John Venditto presented a sign – in Hicksville’s orange and black lettering – to Evers’ family as a keepsake.
“Most of us believe that when you think of the name, ‘Hicksville,’ you must also think of Richard Evers,” said Venditto.
According to Venditto, Evers was a teacher, historian, author and mentor. Venditto mentioned that Evers also taught Billy Joel at Hicksville Middle School and was featured on VH1.
Evers was active in the Hicksville Historical Society and sponsored bus tours around Hicksville to show landmarks and historical edifices, which “boosted community awareness and pride in Hicksville,” Venditto said.
From 1942 to 1946, Evers served as a U.S. Marine, according to friend Owen Magee.
Magee, Evers’ daughter, Susan Metakis, and neighbor and friend Victor Lynch all played vital roles in the process of making Evers’ signs a reality. Evers’ name can also be found in the history room at the Hicksville Library.
Evers passed away on Feb. 25, and his new sign will become a permanent, timeless fixture of the Hicksville community – but even before the sign, Evers already was.
