"Whenever you're worth over a million dollars, you've got a problem," according to Robert C. Evans, class of 1935. "I took a look at my net worth after my wife's (Mary) death, and the way things stood, the government was going to get over half of everything I tried to leave to my kids. The people at the (UI) Foundation showed me how I could make a gift, increase my income, and still provide for my family." The $2 million gift created the Robert C. Evans Endowed Chair in Commerce.

"I could not have accomplished all I did in my life without the University of Illinois and its College of Commerce," Evans said. "I wanted to help the college and reduce my taxes." The staff at the University of Illinois foundation showed him that a gift annuity to endow the Evans chair could provide him with a steady income while considerably reducing his taxes.

Robert Evans earned a finance degree from the University of Illinois in 1935. Upon graduating he served nine years in the U.S. Army Cavalry -- in Texas and Italy. In 1943, while at Ft. Clark, Texas, he led the last charge and review of the Cavalry. During World War II he helped establish high schools and colleges for American military personnel in Naples, Italy. Although he was offered a promotion to brigadier general to stay in the Calvary and serve in Malaysia, he chose to leave the military as a lieutenant colonel. He returned home to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he took a job as district credit manager for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. In 1952 the family moved to Eldon, Missouri, when Evans bought the local Ford Agency. He expected to increase sales in the business and then sell it in about a year's time. But this was an adventure that lasted a lifetime. In 1956 he bought into the Mercantile Bank in Eldon, and soon became president and CEO. He retired from the bank in 1986. During his 30 years at the Mercantile Bank, he built its assets from under $3 million to over $79 million.

Today, Bob Evans spends much of his time in Eldon, but part of his time is also spent in the "castle" at Cape Girardeau that he inherited from his wife Mary. The "castle" is an 11-bedroom turreted mansion that has been in his wife's family for over 180 years. El Bosque de los Olmos, or Elmwood, as it is called, was built by one of Mary's ancestors to assuage the homesickness of his young bride. The house is an attempt to replicate the castle she left behind in Scotland. The 1,200 acres belonging to the castle was ceded to her family in 1707 by the Spanish government. Elmwood is thought to be the oldest property in Missouri occupied by the same family. The Evan's third child, Patrick, lives in the house and farms the property.

Bob Evans seems to have an affinity for historic residences. While stationed at Ft. Clark he lived in a house occupied by Robert E. Lee during the Mexican-American War. In Italy he lived in the palace once belonging to the King of Naples.

Since retiring, Evans, a Kankakee native, spends his time overseeing farms he owns in Missouri and Illinois.