88S31058 CJM-D
By: Kolkhorst S.R. No. 67
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The 95th birthday of an esteemed member of the
Greatest Generation is indeed cause for celebration, and Donald
Gene Davidson of Brenham is marking this milestone in his life on
December 7, 2023; and
WHEREAS, The son of Mary Pauline and William Davidson, Don
Davidson was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1928; he served as
a paratrooper in the U.S. Army's 11th Airborne Division at the end
of World War II, taking part in the occupation of Japan; after
receiving his honorable discharge, he earned his bachelor's degree
in industrial management at Oklahoma State University; he wed the
former Patricia "Patsy" Sue Paschall on June 1, 1950, and they
became the proud parents of a son, Greg; through the years, their
treasured family grew to include a daughter-in-law, Donna Garcia
Davidson, and a granddaughter, Mary Grace Davidson; Mr. and
Mrs. Davidson shared a fulfilling 64-year relationship until her
passing in 2015; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Davidson began his career with Standard Oil of
Indiana, and in the late 1950s, he was involved in opening up new
oil fields in the U.S. and the Persian Gulf; switching to the
aerospace industry in the 1960s, he worked on the Polaris, Ranger,
and Minuteman programs for Hercules Powder Company in Salt Lake
City and on the design and testing phase of Apollo Lunar Excursion
Module components for Brown Engineering Company; later, he returned
to the energy sector and helped to establish a communication
platform along the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline; he retired from Atlantic
Richfield Company in 1986 to focus on raising Longhorn cattle at
Grand Ranch; in addition, he had two other family businesses, Mail
Courier Express and Pee Dee Patterns, where he was both owner and
artist; he also starred in Walking Away, an award-winning
independent movie; and
WHEREAS, A prolific author, Mr. Davidson wrote a novel about
the Greatest Generation, as well as a 670-page history of the
Davidson family, tracing it from 14th Century Scotland to modern
America; he has been an active blogger for 15 years, recording his
insights in "The View from Grand Ranch: The Ramblings and
Ruminations of an Octogenarian"; very active in the Republican
Party, he has served as an election judge and precinct worker; he
maintained his vigorous fitness regimen well into his 90s; and
WHEREAS, Respected and admired by all who are privileged to
know him, Don Davidson may reflect with great satisfaction on a
lifetime of achievement, and it is a pleasure to join his friends
and loved ones in honoring him on this memorable occasion; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 3rd
Called Session, hereby congratulate Donald Gene Davidson on his
95th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued
happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Davidson as an expression of high regard by the
Texas Senate.