There are loyal Wildcat fans here on earth and, in the case of Steve ‘Sparky’ Davis and others, in heaven
See
photo by Wildcatville.
We celebrate Steve’s birthday on June 14 – he was born June 14, 1950, in Clarkston, Washington, and died April
22, 2014, in Portland, Oregon.
Below is a story/recollection about Steve by Chuck Charnquist, a former Linfield
Sports Information Director. Chuck, who died Oct. 28, 2021, is better known for his many years associated
with the NBA Portland Trail Blazers. Read about Chuck here:
https://wildcatville.blogspot.com/2021/10/chuck-charnquist-longtime-portland.html
::::::::::::::
Remembering Steve Davis: 'He’s on my short list of the all-time
great people...'
By Chuck Charnquist. April 25, 2021, Wildcatville
My first
connect with Steve was during his Linfield student days in the
early 1970s. At the time I was Lewis & Clark’s SID, one of three in the NWC
with full-time staff positions Bob Woodle at Willamette and Jim
Kittlsby at PLU were the other two. The summer of 1971 I invited the SIDs
from Oregon’s NWC schools to lunch and an afternoon of meetings to help build a
professional trust that would pay dividends for us all as the sports seasons
unfolded.
Steve was
one of the student SIDs who came. Bonding with Steve was instantaneous.
Initially, I had a hard time believing a student who played football also could
handle the sports information ropes as well. Davis proved me wrong. When he
worked in that role on and on for the next decade, it was a great connect as we
helped each other accomplish our tasks---whether it be football, basketball or
the spring sports.
A side
note: Does anyone know that for one summer, Steve was a “part timer” (they now
call them interns) in the Portland Trail Blazers’ sports communications
office? I think Steve was the first college student ever to fill that
role for the Blazers---probably in the summer of 1971, the team’s second
season. Steve was one of the Blazer publicist John White’s all-time
favorites. White’s daughter, Cheri, now a vice president for
the Blazers but then just a teenager, remembers Steve fondly.
When I
went to work for Linfield in 1987 as the college’s director of information
services (also wearing the hat of sports information director), Steve was one
of my best confidants. He was a big, big help in my transitioning into the
World of the Wildcats. I watched with amazement when Steve, Ron
Davison, Jeff Kizer and other Wildcat alums rolled up their sleeves,
emptied their wallets and built over the summer of 1988 Maxwell Field’s great
concession-ticket office pavilion. A vintage Steve Davis commitment
to his alma mater.
Later on,
I reconnected with Steve when he was at his dad’s Cherry City Electric Company
in Salem, one of the subcontractors in the building of The Rose Garden in the
early 1990s. By then I was working full time for the team. We got together for lunch
a couple of times when he was up checking on the work going on.
Fast
forward a few years when Steve was investing his passion for sports in the
stadium and arena electronic signage business---Daktronics. When he was
up meeting with Trail Blazers arena management, he’d call and say “let’s have
lunch.” He would meet with the front office people then we’d go to lunch.
The last
time I saw him was at a Blazers game one night about five years ago. He gave me
his card, and said, “let’s have lunch.” Sadly, I didn’t make it that
time.
He’s on
my short list of the all-time great people I’ve had the pleasure of working
alongside---Portland State, Lewis & Clark, Linfield, Trail Blazers,
wherever.
Steven Edward Davis,63, was born June 14, 1950, and died April 22, 2014. A service will
be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at Linfield's Ted Wilson Gymnasium,
McMinnville. A viewing will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 27, 2014,
and 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 28, 2014, at Chapel of Macy and Son. For more
information: www.macyand son.com
Source: 4/25/2014 posting at Oregonian website
::::::::::::
Steve Davis obituary
Steven Edward Davis, 63, of McMinnville, Oregon went home to be
with Jesus on April 22, 2014. He died from complications of leukemia following
a bone marrow transplant while at OHSU hospital.
Steve was born in Clarkston, WA, on June 14, 1950 to Lorne and
Virginia Davis. Steve grew up in Salem, Oregon. Following graduation from North
Salem High School (68') he attended Linfield College where he graduated (72')
with a Bachelor of Science degree in business.
While at Linfield he was a record setting field goal kicker and
his favorite career play was a game winning field goal against rival P.L.U. In
addition to studies and football while at Linfield, Steve enjoyed his years as
a live in student firefighter and long-term volunteer firefighter in
McMinnville Fire Department. This association earned him the nickname
"Sparky". Some of his fondest memories while at Linfield were of his
teammates, coaches, the "Bar West" group, and being a part of the
original Riley gym "South Forty".
In 2003 Steve was
inducted into the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame for Meritorious service, an
honor he held in the highest regard. Also, he has been selected as an inductee
into the McMinnville High School Athletic Hall of Fame in May 2014 for his many
years of volunteer contributions to area youth softball programs.
Steve met and married his wife of 43 years, Marilyn Fay King, in
his junior year at Linfield. They settled and made a life in McMinnville. Upon
graduation from Linfield he worked as intern Sports Information Director for
The Portland Trailblazers later moving onto sales and project management for
Eoff Electric, Cherry City Electric, Farnham Electric, and lastly Daktronics
Scoreboard sales.
Steve's life was defined by his unconditional love of family and
friends and his tremendous servants heart. If a need was evident he was the
first to respond with unending selflessness. Steve was a role model and mentor
throughout his life. He was active in community, volunteerism at Linfield, and
coaching girls softball for many years. His love and care of those girls far
exceeded the softball field. Those who knew Steve well knew him as
"MacGyver" a handyman who could fix anything with a roll of duct tape
and a screwdriver, a man who loved details, and appreciated schedules. Steve
was also a gifted storyteller.
Steve is survived by his wife Marilyn, their two daughters, two
son-in-laws, and 8 grandchildren. Family includes daughters Rori Davis
Hartzell, Ryan Hartzell, and their children Molli, Mason, Judith, Kerby and
Mark. Rhonda Davis Thompson, Ron Thompson and their daughters Hannah, Lotti,
and Sophia. Steve is also survived by 3 siblings; Jim Davis, Donna Marr, and
Craig Davis all of Salem, Or. He is preceded in death by his parents Loren and
Virginia Davis.
A viewing will be held at Macy and Son Funeral Home on Sunday,
April 27 from 3:00-6:00 pm and Monday, April 28, 2014 from 4:00-7:00 pm.
Steve's Celebration of Life is Tuesday April 29, 2014 at 4pm at Linfield's
Wilson Gymnasium with reception following.
Source:
Macy and Son, McMinnville
