DR. JAMES WALTER DAVIS, a family physician who was a Leonard resident from 1951 to 1986, died at his home in Greenville on Saturday, June 22, 2002 following a twenty-year struggle with Parkinson's disease. Dr. Davis was born on his family's farm near Paris, Illinois on October 31, 1921 the only child of Walter
        Louis Davis and Olive Brooks Davis. He graduated from Paris High School in 1939 and earned his bachelor's degree from Indiana State Teacher's College in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1943 where he earned athletic letters in swimming and track. He entered the United States Navy in 1943 and served as a communications officer during World War II, including service in the Allied invasion of Europe on "D-Day," 1944. Lt. Davis married Ensign Ruth Borland, R.N., in the Navy Chapel of Portsmouth, Virginia on August 4, 1945. Upon completing his naval service, he entered the University of Illinois College of Medicine, graduating in 1950. After com- pleting an internship at University Hospital, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he opened a family medical practice in Leonard in 1951, and practiced there until he retired in 1986. Dr. Davis was a member of the Hunt, Rains and Rockwall County Medical Society for many years and served as president in the early 1980's. He was three times elected president of the Red River Chapter of the Texas Association of Family Physicians, was a member of the Texas and American Medical Associations, and served on the Texas Commission for Rural HeaIth Care. He was on the staff at the Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville until his retirement in 1986. Dr. Davis served as the first president of the Leonard Chamber of Commerce In the early1950's. He was formerly a member of the board of directors of the Leonard National Bank, served four terms the Leonard City Council, and served as commander of American Legion Post 110. He served as City Health Officer of Leonard and was on the U. S. Housing Authority Board. He directed the Fannin County Red Cross Swimming Program for many years, where he taught literally thousands of children to swim. He coached a group of swimmers during 1960s  and 1970s who brought home championships for Leonard High School, Bonham High School, and the Greenville Y.M.C.A. He was a member of the Trinity Christian Church in Greenville. Dr. Davis is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ruth Borland Davis, children, Colonel J. Walter Davis, Jr., (USMC-Ret) and Susan Emmott Davis of Fredericksburg, VA; Joseph Redmon Davis and Rondi Hillstrtom Davis of Dallas; and, Elizabeth Brooks Davis of Falls Church, VA; and grandchildren Thomas and Meredith Davis Mulhern of Alexandria, VA, Genevieve Elizabeth Davis, and Alice Brooks Davis, both of Dallas. His youngest son, William Borland Davis, preceded him in death in 1981. Pall bearers will be Arvis Buchanan, Billy Dan Watson, Roby Watson and Eugene Kegans of Leonard; Harris Hollingsworth, MD., Grady Latimer, and Leland McCord of Greenville; Bruce McAnally of McKinney; and, Jerry Shaffer of Wylie. Visitation will be at Taylor Funeral Home in Leonard from 5 to 7 pm on Tuesday evening. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the First Baptist Church of Leonard, with internment at the Leonard Cemetery. For those who choose, the family requests that memorials be given to The National Parkinson Foundation at 1501 N.W. 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136-1494.