Robert Evans gets a day to himself on Feb. 18. Actually, it will probably be a day where many of the friends he has made over many years of public service will join him in celebration.

Mayor Bill Baarsma has declared Feb. 18 Bob Evans Day in the city of Tacoma. It is a fitting gesture to one of Tacoma’s elder statesmen.

On that day Evans will serve at his final meeting as a member of the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees. Evans has been a trustee since January 1998, when he was appointed to the position by then Mayor Brian Ebersole.

At that time Evans had just finished serving eight years on Tacoma City Council. He was known for his concern for sustainable development and sensible land-use policies, and took a keen interest in environmental issues. He represented the city in various capacities while on the council, including serving on the board of Puget Sound Regional Council. He was a strong advocate for launching the city’s curbside recycling efforts as well as the creation of the Chinese Reconciliation Park along Ruston Way.

Evans moved here from the Bay Area long ago and found he liked it better up here. He is representative of thousands of Tacoma residents who were not born and raised here but who have adopted the city as their new hometown and set about getting involved to make it an even better place to live.

In tribute to Evans, who enjoys visiting the Wheelock library branch in Proctor District, the next board meeting will be held there Feb. 18. Part of the meeting will be a special recognition of Evans. While it will mark his stepping down from the library board, it likely will not be the end of his service to the city he loves.