CLARKSVILLE, IN (December 21, 2023) – It’s one of the most famous quotes from Mahatma Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” While we may strive to serve others as town employees, Clarksville Parks Maintenance Director Brian Everage seems to take it to another level. For him, his entire life has been about giving back and serving his fellow man.

Brian’s service started in 1990 when he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a cryptologist. Everage says he spent Operation Desert Storm as a code breaker.

“I was a Soviet Union code breaker until the Soviet Union fell, and then I moved on to other things within the Navy.”

When his tour was completed in 1993, Everage says he returned home to southern Indiana and enrolled at IU Southeast to pursue a degree in geography with a minor in geology. He ended up walking away with a degree as well as a relationship with a woman named Monica, who would later become his wife.

“We met in college and married in 1999, so we are coming up on 25 years next summer.”

Brian went into construction after graduating from college, deciding to return to his hometown of Borden, Indiana, and teamed up with his father to build homes. At the same time, he joined the Borden Volunteer Fire Department as a firefighter. Brian has served that department and his community for 26 years, with the last five as the fire chief.

“It started as just a way to serve my community. Being in construction, I had a lot of flexibility to where I could help. I was always in the area and in the community.”

Apparently, Brian wanted to do more than just serve his local community, because in 2008 he returned to serving his country by joining the U.S. Navy Reserves.

“I went back in 2008 and was commissioned as an officer. I’m still serving as an intel officer with the U.S. Transportation Command out of Scott Air Force Base near St. Louis.”

Everage says he currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander and returns to the base one weekend a month and two weeks a year for training. Although he has enjoyed serving his country, Everage says he plans to retire from the Navy Reserves sometime next year.

“I am eligible to retire in March, but not sure when my service will officially come to an end.”

On top of his multiple professional roles, Brian says he is also very involved with his local community, serving on the Borden Parks Board and volunteering with the VFW and the American Legion.

“I don’t have much spare time because of all my meetings. I’m usually only home one night a week.”

His evenings are busy with meetings, but Everage spends his days keeping all of Clarksville’s parks and facilities looking good. He joined the Parks Department in 2019, when his father decided to retire from their construction business. Today, Everage and his maintenance team spend their days maintaining the playgrounds and facilities, keeping the lawns mowed and landscaping looking great, and helping with events when needed.

“It’s a good job. I get to be outside all the time and every day is different. You never know what is going to come along.”

When asked if there were any projects he would like to see completed before his time with Clarksville Parks comes to an end, Everage immediately brought up Ashland Park.

“The Ashland Park renovation is coming, including a new playground. I would like to see the whole the riverfront area cleaned up and renovated. It’s just such a centerpiece for people coming into the community. The scenery is great, but the playground and other amenities just need to be updated.”

Until then, Everage says he will continue to serve the residents of Clarksville and beyond as best he can.

“Yeah, I mean, just trying to make things better for everybody.”