In Memoriam – John L. Davis, DTM
District 39 lost a lion of a leader on January 28, 2022. John L. Davis, Marine Corps veteran and 4 time Distinguished Toastmaster passed away peacefully at home with wife Minda and family at his side after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. John had been an active, dedicated Toastmaster since May 2000 and established a long record of service to the District and its members. John was a past Trio member serving in 2014-2015 as Lt Governor Education and Training (LGET), along with Sondra Nunez, Lt Governor Marketing (LGM), and Brian Hatano, District Governor. John also served two previous terms as an Area Governor, Division Governor, and Conference Co-Chair in 2010, while serving in every club officer position during his 21 years of distinguished service to the District.
John’s achievements include:
Division B Area Governor of the Year 2003 – 2004
Division B Toastmaster of the Year (2 awards) 2004 – 2005, 2012 – 2013
District 39 Division Governor of the Year 2007 2008
District 39 International Speech Contest 1 Place 2009
District 39 Herb Yarborough Sustained Service Award 2011 – 2012
Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) Education Award (4 awards) 2008, 2010, 2014, 2018.
John, and wife Minda attended nearly every District fall and spring conference and always demonstrated their willingness to help make these District events a success. John belonged to many clubs over the years but was most proud of his home club, University Toastmasters, located on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno where John served as an Emeritus Faculty Training Coordinator until his retirement in 2007.
Over the years John mentored and coached many clubs locally and in the Lake Tahoe area with good friend and fellow Toastmaster Dwayne Landenberger, DTM who preceded John in December 2019.
In addition to John’s many leadership accomplishments, he was also an excellent speaker winning numerous speech contests at all levels up to Region I. Friend and former Toastmaster Jeffrey Purtee described John Davis as one of the finest gentlemen he has ever met. Nancy Potts, District 39 Director, and close personal friend of the Davis’s described John as the most sincere, honorable and complete Toastmaster she has ever known. His daughter Sherry, Donny Crandell and others remember John saying, “Don’t try to be a great person. Just be a good person and you will achieve greatness.”.
John will be missed for his leadership, dedication to Toastmasters International and District 39, and for his unflagging service to others.
Our love and prayers go out to his wife Minda, Daughter Sherry and Grandson Daniel . He will always be in our hearts.
Nancy Potts District 39 Director and
Entire District 39 membership
Celebration of Life March 12, 2022 2-4 pm
University of Nevada
Milton Glick Ballroom
4th Floor Joe Crowley Student Union
Reno NV
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