Notes for Cecil Davis: Cecil was married twice, but I don't know the names of his wifes. WRITTEN IN THE LUBBOCK PAPER 1998-- During his 90 years [2000], Davis has worked as a cowboy, played professional baseball, shared a stage with Roy Rogers and surrived a lightning strike. He was born on a ranch north of Byers and grew up in Bailey County. When her wasn't doing chores on his family's ranch, he went to school He fondly recalls riding in a Model T to get to the schoolhouse. After a school was built in Fairview, Davis began walking one and a half miles to attend class. He graduated from Fairview in 1928. "I graduated valedictorian, salutatorian, everything," said Davis. "I was the only one!" After high school, Davis moved to the big city--Wichita Falls--where he attended Draughn's Business College. He also played baseball of the Spudders, the city's semi-pro baseball team. But Davis' baseball days ended when he graduated from college. He returned to his family's ranch to work as a cowboy. Davis was supposed to play a minor role in the production when Roy Rogers brought his show to town, but an acident allowed him to upstage Rogers. Davis' simple assignment was to bring a horse onto the stage while Rogers sang "Cool Water." But when the horse picked an inopportune time to, as Davis put it, "drop a load," Davis was the one getting the laughs as he tried to clean up the manure. An act of God changed the cowboy's life in 1941. While seated on his bed with his arms out the window as he watched a storm pass, Davis was struck by a bolt of lightning. The bolt killed nine cows, a horse and a cat, Davis recalled. But Davis' life was spared, although he did lose the use of an arm. Recovery was slow, but Davis eventually regained control of the arm. For years the injury didn't bother him. But as he has grown older, he's begun to lose control of the arm again. The injury more that 50 years ago still haunts him. Davis worked on the family ranch until 1964, when he retired and moved to Muleshoe. But he's never hung up his spurs or taken off his boots. Now he spends much of his time tending his collections of branding irons, pens and tractors. And he shares his collection of memories whth those willing to listen. The branding irons are by far his largest collection. Davis has branding irons from more than 400 ranches. Most of the irons come from West Texas ransches, Davis said, but some are much older. The collection includes some from when what is now known as Texas was part of Mexico. Some are nearly 250 years old, he said. Davis stores the irons in his garage. But that's not all that can be found there. There's also a 150 year old lantern and a wheel from an old covered wagon inside. The cowboy also is proud to show a special 1866 penny that he said Texas pioneer Charlie Goodnight gave hime. Davis said Goodnight gave him the coin and said, "If you keep this penny, you will never be broke." Davis kept the penny and , you guessed it, he's never been broke. Because of his sharp memory, Davis has become a walking history book of Bailey County. When there's a question about something that happened in Bailey County this passed century, Davis can usually answer it. That's why former Bailey County Sheriff Jerry Hicks has used Davis as a source f or a book he is writing that chronicles the history of sheriffs in the county. "He knows so much about so many thing around here," Hicks said, "There is no way to compare him." While Davis admits that he's slowing down a bit, he still enjoys working with his hands. Much of his time these days is spent underneath the 84-inch bull horns in his living room, where he builds clocks and novelty items. Asked the secret to being able to live a long life, Davis noted he's never smoked or drank, and he doesn't regret it.
More About Cecil Davis: Record Change: May 13, 2000
More About Cecil Davis and Melva: Private-Begin: Private
Cecil Davis (b. May 11, 1909, d. date unknown)
Notes for Cecil Davis: