They waited 50 years to get married, but death robbed them of a first anniversary

Bob CollinsBob Collins Jun 24, 2016
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A year ago Sunday, Jack Evans and George Harris became the first same-sex couple to be married in Dallas County in Texas. But they were icons in the city for more than 50 years, about the length of time the two had been together before finally being allowed to get married. They married a day after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

“Their fingerprints are on every major gay and lesbian organization in this city,” friend and former Dallas City Council Member Chris Luna tells the Dallas Morning News.

They will not celebrate their first anniversary.

Jack died yesterday at 86.

Judge Dennise Garcia, front, conducts a marriage ceremony for George Harris, center left, 82, and Jack Evans, 85, center right, Friday, June 26, 2015, in Dallas. Gay and lesbian Americans have the same right to marry as any other couples, the Supreme Court declared Friday in a historic ruling deciding one of the nation's most contentious and emotional legal questions. Celebrations and joyful weddings quickly followed in states where they had been forbidden. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Judge Dennise Garcia, left front, watches as George Harris, center left, 82, and Jack Evans, center right, 85, kiss after being married by Judge Garcia Friday, June 26, 2015, in Dallas. Gay and lesbian Americans have the same right to marry as any other couples, the Supreme Court declared Friday in a historic ruling deciding one of the nation's most contentious and emotional legal questions. Celebrations and joyful weddings quickly followed in states where they had been forbidden. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez) Judge Dennise Garcia, front, performs a marriage ceremony for George Harris, 82, center left, and Jack Evans, 85, center right, Friday, June 26, 2015, in Dallas. Gay and lesbian Americans have the same right to marry as any other couples, the Supreme Court declared Friday in a historic ruling deciding one of the nation's most contentious and emotional legal questions. Celebrations and joyful weddings quickly followed in states where they had been forbidden. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

“We had great love for each other and we proved it,” Harris said Friday. “We proved it — that love wins.”