If you ever spent a morning with E.R. Evans, you learned there was no need to hurry a good hunt. He’d wait for the sun to lift the fog off the field before he took to walking — two steady bird dogs out front, tails high and steady, the quiet promise of something about to happen.
He’d grin, ease his hat back, and say, “Let’s give ’em a little room.”
Through the years, E.R. kept more than two dozen dogs — all breeds, all personalities — but he’d tell you a man only needs a good pair of bird dogs to feel rich. For him, the hunt was never about the shot. It was about the point. The pause. The companionship of a good friend walking beside him.
Edward Robert Evans, Jr. — known to nearly everyone as E.R. — was born on January 19, 1939, in Norfolk, Virginia. A devoted husband to Sandra for 63 years, proud father, grandfather, and lifelong friend, he lived with purpose and generosity.
He loved the land — and he loved to share it. Through his years of farming and time at Tall Cotton Hunting Preserve, he built friendships that spanned generations. There was always room at his table, and always one more story to tell before heading back out to the field.
For more than 50 years, E.R. was a proud Shriner, serving with a quiet sense of duty and compassion. His generosity touched countless lives, and this annual tower shoot ensures that spirit of giving lives on.
E.R. passed away on August 19, 2023, but his laughter, kindness, and love of life echo in every story told and every bird flushed at Tall Cotton.
This memorial shoot isn’t just a tribute — it’s a continuation. A way to keep his joy alive and his generosity at work, benefiting Shriners Children’s Hospital and the families who need it most.