Image: County Judge Curtis Evans, grandson of John Worth Evans
In the rugged reaches of Jeff Davis County, where mountain winds meet the open range, the name John Worth Evans still stirs respect. A rancher by trade and a man of quiet strength, Evans helped shape not only the land he worked, but also the character of the community that grew around it.
For decades, his ranching operations stretched across Jeff Davis and Presidio counties. He was known not for seeking the spotlight, but for honoring the responsibilities that came with working the land—season after season, year after year. Those who knew him say he was steady, reliable, and humble. His word meant something. His handshake sealed deals that needed no paperwork.
In 1955, Hollywood came calling. Part of Evans’ land near Valentine became a filming location for Giant, the Texas epic starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. The movie’s dramatic portrayal of oil wealth and cattle dynasties offered a stylized version of life in West Texas—but for Evans, the filming was a brief distraction from the work at hand. He didn’t trade on the fame. He returned to the saddle and to the quiet rhythms of ranch life.
Those who remember him describe a man deeply committed to his family, to his animals, and to the land itself. In a place where legacy is often passed down not in wealth but in character, John Worth Evans left behind something lasting.
Today, his grandson, Curtis Evans, serves as County Judge. The younger Evans inherited not only the family name but the weight that comes with it in a community that remembers.
John Worth Evans earned his place in local history the hard way—through honest work, deep roots, and a life lived without pretense. In Jeff Davis County, that still matters.
