FORMER Ballarat North MLA Tom Evans died yesterday morning at Creswick's John Curtin Hostel, aged 92.It is understood his health had declined over the past 18 months.Mr Evans had a large community involvement, from politics to the North Ballarat Football Club.In 2002, Mr Evans helped unlock a piece of the Eureka story, when the last writings of Italian activist Raffaello Carboni to rebellion leader Peter Lalor were unveiled to the public in Ballarat.His long-time friend Peter Butters said Mr Evans was very passionate about local history, particularly Eureka."He sought the truth and was concerned about tendancies towards myth status."Mr Evans was also a regular contributor to Letters to the Editor in The Courier on community matters with his Eureka beliefs.As a politician, Mr Evans represented the Liberal Party in Ballarat North for 28 years, from 1960.His nephew, Robert Ebery, yesterday recalled his uncle as being the "politician for the people"."That was his main objective. He probably had quite a few run-ins with the premiers and members of the day over different things," he said.Mr Butters also recalled Mr Evans as a "man of principal".He said Mr Evans was a popular politician who had "a stranglehold" on his seat until he retired in 1988."He was respected by voters of both major parties," Mr Butters said."As a Liberal politician, he threatened to cross the floor of Parliament and vote with the Opposition in the interest of his constituents."Born in Creswick in 1917, Mr Evans was the second youngest of seven.He was educated at Smeaton State School and later at Ballarat High School.He was involved in the family business, running the Smeaton shop, and later became a trainee manager at Woolworths.In 1952, he sat as a councillor on the Creswick Shire Council, a position he held for 10 years.Mr Ebery recalled his uncle's love of football, despite the fact he wasn't a great footballer himself."He was a life member of the North Ballarat Football Club, where he was their number one ticket holder," he said.Among his other involvements, Mr Evans was founding president of the Country Greyhouse Association of Victoria, founding president of the Smeaton Bowling Club, and a life member of the Clunes Football League and the Mt Prospect Tennis Association.His funeral will be held later this week.