Billie Addleman gave a touching memorial for Bud Davis last week.
In my life I have been fortunate to cross paths with great men and women. Frequently, this Club brought many great people into my life. Bud Davis was one of them.
Dr. Harmon H. Davis, II, or Bud, as we knew him, left us two weeks ago. He left behind a legacy of service, generosity, and thoughtful quiet kindness.
Bud grew up outside of Denver. As a kid he worked on a ranch. He had early aspirations of becoming a veterinarian. However, the ranch veterinarian told Bud to go medical school, because people can tell you what’s bothering them and animals cannot.
Bud did just that.
With incredible focus, grit, and determination, he attended Yale University. He was a first-generation college student. He was incredibly proud of having graduated from Yale, and for years served as a Wyoming interviewer of prospective Yale students with fellow alumni, and Rotarian, Jim Helzer.
After Yale, he attended the University of Utah School of Medicine, where he met his wife, Claire. They married after he graduated from medical school. Bud performed his residency in internal medicine in St. Louis, followed by two years in the U.S. Navy. After serving his time in the Navy, he returned to St. Louis for his fellowship in pulmonary medicine.
Bud and his wife, Claire, would find their way to Cheyenne where he joined the Internal Medicine Group, along with Dr. Don Hunton and Dr. Rick Davis, also longtime members of this club. They had and raised two children, Justin Davis and Gwendolyn Davis. Throughout his career, Bud served in various leadership roles, including 15 years at the President of IMG, the Medical Staff Officer of CRMC, and twice he served as hospital Chief of Staff. He also served a five-year term as Trustee for the Hospital, and twelve years on the CRMC Foundation, including a term as Board Chair.
In 2013, he retired.
It turns out he was not very good at retirement.
In retirement, he continued to serve as Medical Director of the CRMC’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program; as an adjudicator for Wyoming Disability Determination Services; as a member of the Wyoming Medical Commission; and he was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics.
He also served on the respiratory therapist advisory board at LCCC.
For nearly thirty years, he was member of the Young Men’s Literary Club, serving as a senior statesmen and chair of the bylaws committee. He was also active at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
Bud joined Rotary in 1996. His retirement allowed him to become more active in the Club. He chaired the Club’s Four Way Test scholarship committee for several years and one year he also wrote the questions for The Cranium Cup. Claire and Bud hosted two Rotary exchange students.
Other than Yale, and family, Bud was most proud of helping start the Davis Scholars or Davis First Generation Experience at LCCC. The Davis First Generation Experience at LCCC is designed to support and empower first‑generation college students maneuver the college campus and educational environment. I know several people in this Club have spoken to or served on panels for the Davis First Generation program. Dr. Davis invested in this program in so many ways. He was incredibly proud of it. He often shared with me and others about the progress of the program, as well as the successes of the students.
While Bud had a reputation for being a bit of a curmudgeon, his heart was as big as anyone I knew.
For the last decade, I have had lunch with Bud on Mondays. Bud started the lunch to get a dear friend, and member of this Club, out of the house and to break bread with friends. Initially the group met at Poor Richards. The group’s composition has changed over time, but Bud was the staple. The current group continues to meet today at the Rib & Chop and will continue to do so in honor of Bud and his legacy.
So many times, during lunch, our group was politely interrupted by a former patient who wanted to say “hi” to their most trusted doctor. It is amazing the number of people that Bud served as a long-time doctor in the community.
In a busy world, Bud was a constant in so many lives. He delivered black and blue jam to friends at Christmas. He regularly provided me articles he cut out of the Wall Street Journal. I would have to make sure I read them, because they would come up in discussion.
He brought wisdom, curiosity, and questions. As Ted Lasso would say, he was curious, not judgmental. He was an avid reader, a constant learner. At the age of 71, he went through the Leadership Wyoming program. His classmates adored and admired him.
Last year, another one of our long-term Rotarians suffered a catastrophic change in circumstances, including a fatal diagnosis. Bud called that Rotarian every day to check on him. I know he did the same for many others. He selflessly invested in others and helped them on their road to success.
He was a constant learner and avid reader and traveler.
Earlier this year, Bud lost his Claire, his wife of 53 years. They were an impressive pair. They were involved in the community, served their profession, and helped improve Cheyenne. They adored and loved their two children, Justin and Gwen, both living in southern California and their two grandchildren --- and --- . They also loved their three poodle mixes, Luna, Hans, and Emi.
Bud made the medical profession, his community, and his friends better. He loved his family. He loved his friends and he loved learning.
I hope today you will reflect on Bud, his family, his life and his legacy.
