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Hastings resident, Leon W. Davis, 91,
passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at Perkins Pavilion Good Samaritan
Society-Hastings Village in Hastings, Nebraska. Born in the family home in Hastings,
Leon experienced a youth in the Great Depression, volunteered into the
U. S. Navy during WWII, enjoyed a career as a chemical engineer then
came back to Hastings to complete his life. November 1919 was an
exciting time in Hastings and the United States as Leon entered the
community as the second of two children of Joseph M. Davis and Elsie F.
Davis. He received his education through Hastings Public Schools. One of
his memorable childhood tales of fact was locating hidden stolen money
from the great Hastings bank robbery of 1931. He excelled in tennis
playing for Hastings High and the University of Nebraska. In a musical
family, he played flute well though he used his skills with UNL to
become Drum Major of the marching band. Fittingly he led the Husker band
in the only Rose Bowl appearance to date in 1941. Graduating with a
degree in chemical engineering he went to wartime work with Monsanto
Chemical Company. Working in West Virginia he earned a private pilot’s
license, a process of pleasant tales of flying in the days of compass
and dead reckoning navigation. It was wartime and although “exempt” with
a critical job classification, Leon, like so many of his contemporaries
waived his exemption, joining the Navy. But that was after meeting his
life mate Loraine in St Louis where he had been transferred to another
wartime critical chemical plant of Monsanto’s. Leon was posted in the
Pacific on the largest type of wood ship, a “PC” (patrol craft),
returning with memorable stories of the wartime Pacific. Post war Leon
continued his career as an engineer and enjoying a family of three sons
with Loraine. His professional record promoted him into an entirely new
field of polycarbonate plastics seen in use today. As his family
developed, they lived in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Leon’s
favorite job was Plant Manager for four years of the huge Bayer chemical
facility in New Martinsville, West Virginia. Through the years Leon
assured his sons knew Hastings, learned of the pioneer roots of
immigrants settling Nebraska in 1880 and learned a life of service and
responsibility. Leon retired as a Bayer company executive to return to
his beloved Hastings in 1980 to assist his mother running Cornhusker
Realty. During the next 25 years he lived and served the Hastings and
Adams County community until retiring during 2008 in Hastings. During
his active years he was elected to two terms as city councilman, served
nine years on the Little Blue District Board, volunteered with Mary
Lanning Memorial Hospital and devoted uncountable time with his beloved
Masonic brotherhood. Leon saw “Shriner’s” nationwide, no cost pediatric
hospitals among his favorite charities and locally assured the
continuing children’s hearing clinic in the Hastings Masonic Lodge
building. In 1979, following a disastrous downtown Hastings block
leveling explosion and fire, Leon was one of several business people who
committed to redeveloping the central core of Hastings. The historic
Cameron building on First and Hastings was repaired and continues today
as a testament of his love for Hastings. His humor and genuine interest
in people mark conversations of him today. Physical activity was
important to Leon. He continued playing tennis until health issues
focused his activity to golf. He remains one of the few local “golfer
extraordinaire” designees by his fellow golfers. Although champion in
his “flight” at Lochland he is best remembered for his immortalized tee
shot that took flight and hit a bird in flight across the fairway. His
companions refused to grant him a “birdie” and threatened to notify the
game warden of his bird hunting out of season. Leon’s love, Loraine died
in 1997. His three sons survive him. Joe, a physician executive at Mary
Lanning, currently lives in Hastings with his wife Florance. Tim lives
in the Dayton Ohio area working with county government in a management
position with his wife Pat, a public school teacher. Tom, a retired
Marine Corps pilot, now flies internationally for FedEx and lives in
North Carolina with his wife Cathy. Those around Leon in his final
months at Good Samaritan Village were well informed of his family and
their exploits. Of course the listener was almost always asked and
advised to “ballroom” dance as that was a favorite activity for Leon and
Loraine. Leon’s family reflects the example and mentoring of service to
community and devotion to family. Among eleven grandchildren and four
great grandchildren he watched dedicated church service as a focus for
many. Others serve or served in the U.S. military organizations and
government agencies. The public and church activities find some of the
grandchildren celebrating his life on different continents as Leon
closes his legacy. |
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