Obituary of Harold Clayton Davis

Col. (Dr.) Harold Clayton Davis, Sr. Retired USAF (1924-2020) On the afternoon of Monday, April 20, 2020, Colonel Harold Clayton Davis, Sr., Retired USAF, reported for his final assignment with our Lord at 96 years of age. He was born on February 1, 1924 and was the third son of Joseph Clayton and Florrie Estelle Davis (Rabon) of Sylvester, Georgia. An avid student, Harold graduated salutatorian from Sylvester High School in May 1941. He continued his studies for the next two years at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural Junior College and obtained his degree in 1942. In December of 1943 during WWII, Harold entered the U.S. Army following his two older brothers (Felton and Wendell) who had served in combat in the North African theater. However, due to a decision in Washington DC for America to stop enlisting more soldiers at that time, he shortly returned to civilian life on February 11, 1944. Returning then to a higher education path, Harold ultimately went on to achieve a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1947 from Alabama Polytechnic Institute, the forerunner of today’s Auburn University. Next, Harold joined a veterinary medical practice as a large animal veterinarian in Memphis, TN. After one year, he decided to open his own veterinary practice in Holly Springs, MS. It was during this time that he met and married his wife of 52 years, Ann Elizabeth Davis (Woods). At the outbreak of the Korean War in early 1950, he chose to join the newly formed Veterinary Corp of the US Air Force. In order to broaden his skills needed for this new role while assigned at Ellington AFB, he elected to pursue a Masters of Public Health Degree at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. He married Ann on August 28, 1951 in Holly Springs and graduated with his MPH in 1952. His military journey would take him and his growing family on a journey across the globe to an assortment of locations including Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Virginia, South Carolina, Germany, and San Antonio. During the Vietnam War, while the family stayed in San Antonio, he was assigned at Offutt AFB with multiple assignments to Southeast Asia, and was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1969. The various roles in which he served included Public Health Veterinarian/Preventive Medicine Officer, Staff Veterinarian, Deputy and Director of Veterinary Sciences Division, Command Veterinarian and finally Director of the largest USAF Veterinary Medical Services located at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center at Lackland AFB. He retired from active duty on April 30, 1978 in San Antonio. Harold always loved to travel and did so extensively, often taking his family with him. Retirement also allowed Harold to pursue more study at Trinity University in San Antonio while supporting Ann who had revised her role as a school teacher. This time also allowed Harold and Ann to spend more time with their children and grandchildren. They were blessed to continue traveling all around the world together until Ann’s death in 2003. The 28 years he served his country in the Air Force readily allowed Colonel Davis to see much more of the world than the one-time young man from South Georgia ever imagined. He is survived by his children, Dr. Harold Clayton Davis, Jr. (Woody) MD JD and his wife Dori Davis (Boulden) of Alexandria, VA; Dr. Robert Douglas (Doug) Davis MD and his wife Denise Gail Evers of Georgetown, TX; and Marjorie Ann McDonald (Davis) and her husband William Marc McDonald JD of Ft. Worth, TX. Harold was immensely proud of his grandchildren and his eyes lit up every time he talked about them. They include Jennifer Ann McDonald of Ft. Worth, TX; Natalie Marie Edwards (McDonald) and her husband Cameron Nolan Edwards of Ft. Worth, TX; and Kyle Douglas Davis and his wife Margaret Ann Davis (King) of Springdale, AR. A celebration of Harold’s life will take place later this summer when the corona virus pandemic has abated so friends and family can safely gather together to celebrate his memorable life. Interment, next to his beloved wife Ann, will be in San Antonio, TX.