Founder of D.D. Davis Construction
D.D. Davis, 85, who was known around the world for his industrial construction projects, built something more important in the Mahoning Valley -- a lasting legacy.
Area residents will long remember Davis despite his death Saturday because of his gifts of money, time and energy.
Even at 85, Davis was the volunteer construction manager for an addition now being built at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown and the Davis Family YMCA under construction in Boardman. His generosity also led to his name being attached to the recently opened Davis Garden Center at Mill Creek Park.
"He gave from the heart. He wanted to touch people's lives," said Ken Rudge, YMCA chief executive.
Founder of companies
Davis was the founder of Davis International and D.D. Davis Construction, both of Boardman. The companies are known for their expertise in the construction of freezer buildings for the food industry. Davis International has handled construction projects in 40 countries over the years.
Civic leaders describe him as an organized perfectionist who gladly assumed responsibility.
"If you needed to get something done, you'd call D.D. Davis and he was always there," said Thomas Humphries, president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce.
But there was another side to him that loved life, cared for people and desired to share his Christian faith.
He and his wife, Velma, had visited every continent besides Antarctica, so they took a cruise there last January. One highlight he spoke of was riding in a smaller boat to see the penguins up close.
"On the way down, he stopped off in Brazil to hang glide," said Tom Sharkey, senior pastor at First Covenant Church in Boardman.
Faith was important to Davis, who was a member of First Covenant for 50 years. Louis Zona, director of the Bulter Institute, said Davis once heard of a worker at the museum whose mother was seriously ill with cancer. "He walked over to her and prayed with her," Zona said.
He once looked out his window and saw Davis handing out Bibles in the snow.
That was normal for Davis, said Brenda D'Apolito, secretary and bookkeeper for Davis Construction. Her boss was active in Gideons International and passed out Bibles on all seven continents, including during his trip to Antarctica.
She said he rented an apartment in Jerusalem and offered it rent-free to pastors from the United States because he thought all ministers should see the Holy Land.
Other activities
Some of his other charitable activities were: helping to acquire the headquarters building for the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, of which he had been chairman of the board; serving on the boards of Bank One of Youngstown, the Butler, Bob Jones University and Ravi Zacharias International Ministries; and past president of Uptown Kiwanis.
Civic leaders say he helped many people, for which he sought no publicity.
"He's been an outstanding philanthropist for many years," Rudge said. "A lot of the things he's done have gone unknown."
He started the construction business that featured "one-stop service" after serving in the Navy in World War II. He helped create industrial areas such as Lake Park Road in Boardman, McClurg Road in Boardman, Victoria Road in Austintown and Myron Street in Hubbard.
D'Apolito said Davis thought about retiring when he had a heart attack about 12 years ago but found he couldn't stop working. He was at the office every work day that he wasn't traveling.
Besides the Butler and YMCA projects, he was overseeing the construction of a cold storage building in Evans City, Pa. The company will continue with the Davis International staff taking on his duties. The company employs about 10 people, in addition to union construction workers.
D.D. Davis, 85, who was known around the world for his industrial construction projects, built something more important in the Mahoning Valley -- a lasting legacy.
Area residents will long remember Davis despite his death Saturday because of his gifts of money, time and energy.
Even at 85, Davis was the volunteer construction manager for an addition now being built at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown and the Davis Family YMCA under construction in Boardman. His generosity also led to his name being attached to the recently opened Davis Garden Center at Mill Creek Park.
"He gave from the heart. He wanted to touch people's lives," said Ken Rudge, YMCA chief executive.
Founder of companies
Davis was the founder of Davis International and D.D. Davis Construction, both of Boardman. The companies are known for their expertise in the construction of freezer buildings for the food industry. Davis International has handled construction projects in 40 countries over the years.
Civic leaders describe him as an organized perfectionist who gladly assumed responsibility.
"If you needed to get something done, you'd call D.D. Davis and he was always there," said Thomas Humphries, president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce.
But there was another side to him that loved life, cared for people and desired to share his Christian faith.
He and his wife, Velma, had visited every continent besides Antarctica, so they took a cruise there last January. One highlight he spoke of was riding in a smaller boat to see the penguins up close.
"On the way down, he stopped off in Brazil to hang glide," said Tom Sharkey, senior pastor at First Covenant Church in Boardman.
Faith was important to Davis, who was a member of First Covenant for 50 years. Louis Zona, director of the Bulter Institute, said Davis once heard of a worker at the museum whose mother was seriously ill with cancer. "He walked over to her and prayed with her," Zona said.
He once looked out his window and saw Davis handing out Bibles in the snow.
That was normal for Davis, said Brenda D'Apolito, secretary and bookkeeper for Davis Construction. Her boss was active in Gideons International and passed out Bibles on all seven continents, including during his trip to Antarctica.
She said he rented an apartment in Jerusalem and offered it rent-free to pastors from the United States because he thought all ministers should see the Holy Land.
Other activities
Some of his other charitable activities were: helping to acquire the headquarters building for the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, of which he had been chairman of the board; serving on the boards of Bank One of Youngstown, the Butler, Bob Jones University and Ravi Zacharias International Ministries; and past president of Uptown Kiwanis.
Civic leaders say he helped many people, for which he sought no publicity.
"He's been an outstanding philanthropist for many years," Rudge said. "A lot of the things he's done have gone unknown."
He started the construction business that featured "one-stop service" after serving in the Navy in World War II. He helped create industrial areas such as Lake Park Road in Boardman, McClurg Road in Boardman, Victoria Road in Austintown and Myron Street in Hubbard.
D'Apolito said Davis thought about retiring when he had a heart attack about 12 years ago but found he couldn't stop working. He was at the office every work day that he wasn't traveling.
Besides the Butler and YMCA projects, he was overseeing the construction of a cold storage building in Evans City, Pa. The company will continue with the Davis International staff taking on his duties. The company employs about 10 people, in addition to union construction workers.
Founder of D.D. Davis Construction
D.D. Davis, 85, who was known around the world for his industrial construction projects, built something more important in the Mahoning Valley -- a lasting legacy.
Area residents will long remember Davis despite his death Saturday because of his gifts of money, time and energy.
Even at 85, Davis was the volunteer construction manager for an addition now being built at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown and the Davis Family YMCA under construction in Boardman. His generosity also led to his name being attached to the recently opened Davis Garden Center at Mill Creek Park.
"He gave from the heart. He wanted to touch people's lives," said Ken Rudge, YMCA chief executive.
Founder of companies
Davis was the founder of Davis International and D.D. Davis Construction, both of Boardman. The companies are known for their expertise in the construction of freezer buildings for the food industry. Davis International has handled construction projects in 40 countries over the years.
Civic leaders describe him as an organized perfectionist who gladly assumed responsibility.
"If you needed to get something done, you'd call D.D. Davis and he was always there," said Thomas Humphries, president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce.
But there was another side to him that loved life, cared for people and desired to share his Christian faith.
He and his wife, Velma, had visited every continent besides Antarctica, so they took a cruise there last January. One highlight he spoke of was riding in a smaller boat to see the penguins up close.
"On the way down, he stopped off in Brazil to hang glide," said Tom Sharkey, senior pastor at First Covenant Church in Boardman.
Faith was important to Davis, who was a member of First Covenant for 50 years. Louis Zona, director of the Bulter Institute, said Davis once heard of a worker at the museum whose mother was seriously ill with cancer. "He walked over to her and prayed with her," Zona said.
He once looked out his window and saw Davis handing out Bibles in the snow.
That was normal for Davis, said Brenda D'Apolito, secretary and bookkeeper for Davis Construction. Her boss was active in Gideons International and passed out Bibles on all seven continents, including during his trip to Antarctica.
She said he rented an apartment in Jerusalem and offered it rent-free to pastors from the United States because he thought all ministers should see the Holy Land.
Other activities
Some of his other charitable activities were: helping to acquire the headquarters building for the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, of which he had been chairman of the board; serving on the boards of Bank One of Youngstown, the Butler, Bob Jones University and Ravi Zacharias International Ministries; and past president of Uptown Kiwanis.
Civic leaders say he helped many people, for which he sought no publicity.
"He's been an outstanding philanthropist for many years," Rudge said. "A lot of the things he's done have gone unknown."
He started the construction business that featured "one-stop service" after serving in the Navy in World War II. He helped create industrial areas such as Lake Park Road in Boardman, McClurg Road in Boardman, Victoria Road in Austintown and Myron Street in Hubbard.
D'Apolito said Davis thought about retiring when he had a heart attack about 12 years ago but found he couldn't stop working. He was at the office every work day that he wasn't traveling.
Besides the Butler and YMCA projects, he was overseeing the construction of a cold storage building in Evans City, Pa. The company will continue with the Davis International staff taking on his duties. The company employs about 10 people, in addition to union construction workers.
D.D. Davis, 85, who was known around the world for his industrial construction projects, built something more important in the Mahoning Valley -- a lasting legacy.
Area residents will long remember Davis despite his death Saturday because of his gifts of money, time and energy.
Even at 85, Davis was the volunteer construction manager for an addition now being built at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown and the Davis Family YMCA under construction in Boardman. His generosity also led to his name being attached to the recently opened Davis Garden Center at Mill Creek Park.
"He gave from the heart. He wanted to touch people's lives," said Ken Rudge, YMCA chief executive.
Founder of companies
Davis was the founder of Davis International and D.D. Davis Construction, both of Boardman. The companies are known for their expertise in the construction of freezer buildings for the food industry. Davis International has handled construction projects in 40 countries over the years.
Civic leaders describe him as an organized perfectionist who gladly assumed responsibility.
"If you needed to get something done, you'd call D.D. Davis and he was always there," said Thomas Humphries, president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce.
But there was another side to him that loved life, cared for people and desired to share his Christian faith.
He and his wife, Velma, had visited every continent besides Antarctica, so they took a cruise there last January. One highlight he spoke of was riding in a smaller boat to see the penguins up close.
"On the way down, he stopped off in Brazil to hang glide," said Tom Sharkey, senior pastor at First Covenant Church in Boardman.
Faith was important to Davis, who was a member of First Covenant for 50 years. Louis Zona, director of the Bulter Institute, said Davis once heard of a worker at the museum whose mother was seriously ill with cancer. "He walked over to her and prayed with her," Zona said.
He once looked out his window and saw Davis handing out Bibles in the snow.
That was normal for Davis, said Brenda D'Apolito, secretary and bookkeeper for Davis Construction. Her boss was active in Gideons International and passed out Bibles on all seven continents, including during his trip to Antarctica.
She said he rented an apartment in Jerusalem and offered it rent-free to pastors from the United States because he thought all ministers should see the Holy Land.
Other activities
Some of his other charitable activities were: helping to acquire the headquarters building for the Rescue Mission of Mahoning Valley, of which he had been chairman of the board; serving on the boards of Bank One of Youngstown, the Butler, Bob Jones University and Ravi Zacharias International Ministries; and past president of Uptown Kiwanis.
Civic leaders say he helped many people, for which he sought no publicity.
"He's been an outstanding philanthropist for many years," Rudge said. "A lot of the things he's done have gone unknown."
He started the construction business that featured "one-stop service" after serving in the Navy in World War II. He helped create industrial areas such as Lake Park Road in Boardman, McClurg Road in Boardman, Victoria Road in Austintown and Myron Street in Hubbard.
D'Apolito said Davis thought about retiring when he had a heart attack about 12 years ago but found he couldn't stop working. He was at the office every work day that he wasn't traveling.
Besides the Butler and YMCA projects, he was overseeing the construction of a cold storage building in Evans City, Pa. The company will continue with the Davis International staff taking on his duties. The company employs about 10 people, in addition to union construction workers.
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