Davis Park
SIZE	1.5 Acres
LOCATION	8909 Laguna Star Drive: West of Laguna Star Drive, South of Red Birch Way, and East of Bear Park Court (LAGUNA)
PARK FEATURES	Open Play Areas Playground Equipment Picnic Area Barbecue
COMPLETED	1992
BIOGRAPHY	Walt Davis was well known as the owner and operator of Walt Davis Chevrolet, but was equally recognized for his ready smile, hearty chuckle, and generous heart. Walt graduated from UC Berkley in 1951, where he played football and was a member of Sigma Pi Epsilon Fraternity. Walt also attended the University of San Francisco Law School for a year. Before moving to Elk Grove, he worked for the Chevrolet Division of General Motors for 17 years, was General Manager at a dealership in San Jose for 6 years and had an auto dealership in Gilroy for 4 years. Walt was also very involved in community activities while he lived in Fremont, California. Walt was a member of the Glenmore Homeowners association, was on Fremont's Recreation and Planning Commissions, and was a member of the Kiwanis Club. He married his wife carol in 1950 in San Francisco, and they had three children, Delinda, Michael and Diana, and two grandchildren. During the 12 years that Walt lived and worked in Elk Grove, he became enmeshed in community activities. He served on the board of directors of the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Historical Society, and a director of First Security Bank. He was a member of All Saints Memorial Episcopal Church in Sacramento, and served on numerous General Motors committees. He had a keen involvement in every activity of the Rotary Club of Elk Grove and was Club President in 1988-89. Walt was always willing to provide vans to transport Rotarians to various functions and also provided a transportation van to the Senior Center of Elk Grove. As a result from his involvement, Walt received the Paul Harris Fellow Award. Walt had a great international interest and led his fellow Rotarians beyond the U.S. borders to implement a health clinic for two orphanages in San Luis R.C., Sonora, Mexico. On the first trip in 1988 an eight-person medical team was transported by air to provide physical examinations for 185 children. One child, found to have a condition that needed special attention, was flown back to the United States for medical care. Today, several flights a year continue to supply and support the orphanages and a modern clinic has been established that is equipped to offer medical care to local townspeople as well the children. Walt Davis is a legend to those kids in Mexico for the enormous difference he made in their quality of life. Walt was killed in 1990 while on a flight on his way to a Chevrolet meeting in Eureka. However, his community continues to benefit from his life even after his death. The annual Walt Davis Memorial Golf Tournament supports local charities, an annual $500 scholarship for an automotive mechanic is awarded, and a student is aided each year by a $1000 scholarship from a memorial fund established in their name.
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