St. Joseph News Press
May 7, 1992
Dexter Davis, former state official, civic leader, dies
From Staff and Wire reports
Dexter Davis, a businessman and civic leader in St. Joseph and a former Missouri commissioner of agriculture, has died of cancer. He was 63. Davis, who died Tuesday at his home in St. Joseph, had been sick for months with colon and liver cancer.
A lifelong resident of St Joseph, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. True Davis Sr., one of Missouri's pioneering families. Davis was agriculture commissioner from 1965 to 1973 under Gov. Warren Hearnes. During that time, he started the governor's conference on agriculture, the department's export market-program, and was instrumental in setting up the state's meat inspection service. Hearnes and Gov. John Dalton both named him to their staffs as an honorary colonel.
Davis also played a key role in expanding the State Fair in Sedalia. "He probably did more for agriculture here than anybody," said Lowell Mohler, chief administrative officer of the Missouri, Farm Bureau. As the first commissioner who was not a farmer, Davis initially was questioned about his commitment to agriculture, said Jim Sprake, a longtime friend and an official with the Livestock Marketing Association in Kansas City. But Davis used his business skills to move the department into promotion and marketing, Sprake said. He was active in a number of St. Joseph civic and political organizations, including the Buchanan County Young Democrats Club, of which he was a past president. He conducted an unsuccessful bid for 6th District congressman in 1972. In January, he was honored as founder of the Missouri Governor's Advisory Council on Agriculture during 25th anniversary ceremonies at the council's annual convention. His business career included responsibilities as national sales director for the former Anchor Serum of St. Joseph. Since the early 1970s, Davis had been active in real estate management and investments. He was a real estate broker, and was president and owner of Capitol Staff Realty from 1972 to 1975 and Real Estate America of Houston from 1975 to 1991. Davis graduated from William and Mary College, and attended the University of Virginia and Culver Military Academy. He served with the Missouri Air National Guard, attaining the rank of captain, and the Air Force Reserves. He was a member of the Moila Club, St. Joseph Country Club and Elks Lodge.
In 1950, he married the former Marion Redmond, who survives of the home. Davis was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah A., in. 1978; and a sister, Daphne Nan Davis Oppenheimer, in 1987. Additional survivors are three daughters, Daire Davis Dawkins and Darcie Davis DeVore, both of St. Joseph, and Danielle Davis Kaye of Kansas City; a son, Ronald R. of San Diego; his mother, Helen M. Davis of St. Joseph; a sister, Jacqueline Davis Andrews of Lakeland, Fla.; a brother, True Davis Jr. of Washington, D.C.; and two grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Meierhoffer-Fleeman Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 toright at the funeral home.
May 7, 1992
Dexter Davis, former state official, civic leader, dies
From Staff and Wire reports
Dexter Davis, a businessman and civic leader in St. Joseph and a former Missouri commissioner of agriculture, has died of cancer. He was 63. Davis, who died Tuesday at his home in St. Joseph, had been sick for months with colon and liver cancer.
A lifelong resident of St Joseph, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. True Davis Sr., one of Missouri's pioneering families. Davis was agriculture commissioner from 1965 to 1973 under Gov. Warren Hearnes. During that time, he started the governor's conference on agriculture, the department's export market-program, and was instrumental in setting up the state's meat inspection service. Hearnes and Gov. John Dalton both named him to their staffs as an honorary colonel.
Davis also played a key role in expanding the State Fair in Sedalia. "He probably did more for agriculture here than anybody," said Lowell Mohler, chief administrative officer of the Missouri, Farm Bureau. As the first commissioner who was not a farmer, Davis initially was questioned about his commitment to agriculture, said Jim Sprake, a longtime friend and an official with the Livestock Marketing Association in Kansas City. But Davis used his business skills to move the department into promotion and marketing, Sprake said. He was active in a number of St. Joseph civic and political organizations, including the Buchanan County Young Democrats Club, of which he was a past president. He conducted an unsuccessful bid for 6th District congressman in 1972. In January, he was honored as founder of the Missouri Governor's Advisory Council on Agriculture during 25th anniversary ceremonies at the council's annual convention. His business career included responsibilities as national sales director for the former Anchor Serum of St. Joseph. Since the early 1970s, Davis had been active in real estate management and investments. He was a real estate broker, and was president and owner of Capitol Staff Realty from 1972 to 1975 and Real Estate America of Houston from 1975 to 1991. Davis graduated from William and Mary College, and attended the University of Virginia and Culver Military Academy. He served with the Missouri Air National Guard, attaining the rank of captain, and the Air Force Reserves. He was a member of the Moila Club, St. Joseph Country Club and Elks Lodge.
In 1950, he married the former Marion Redmond, who survives of the home. Davis was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah A., in. 1978; and a sister, Daphne Nan Davis Oppenheimer, in 1987. Additional survivors are three daughters, Daire Davis Dawkins and Darcie Davis DeVore, both of St. Joseph, and Danielle Davis Kaye of Kansas City; a son, Ronald R. of San Diego; his mother, Helen M. Davis of St. Joseph; a sister, Jacqueline Davis Andrews of Lakeland, Fla.; a brother, True Davis Jr. of Washington, D.C.; and two grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Meierhoffer-Fleeman Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 toright at the funeral home.
St. Joseph News Press
May 7, 1992
Dexter Davis, former state official, civic leader, dies
From Staff and Wire reports
Dexter Davis, a businessman and civic leader in St. Joseph and a former Missouri commissioner of agriculture, has died of cancer. He was 63. Davis, who died Tuesday at his home in St. Joseph, had been sick for months with colon and liver cancer.
A lifelong resident of St Joseph, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. True Davis Sr., one of Missouri's pioneering families. Davis was agriculture commissioner from 1965 to 1973 under Gov. Warren Hearnes. During that time, he started the governor's conference on agriculture, the department's export market-program, and was instrumental in setting up the state's meat inspection service. Hearnes and Gov. John Dalton both named him to their staffs as an honorary colonel.
Davis also played a key role in expanding the State Fair in Sedalia. "He probably did more for agriculture here than anybody," said Lowell Mohler, chief administrative officer of the Missouri, Farm Bureau. As the first commissioner who was not a farmer, Davis initially was questioned about his commitment to agriculture, said Jim Sprake, a longtime friend and an official with the Livestock Marketing Association in Kansas City. But Davis used his business skills to move the department into promotion and marketing, Sprake said. He was active in a number of St. Joseph civic and political organizations, including the Buchanan County Young Democrats Club, of which he was a past president. He conducted an unsuccessful bid for 6th District congressman in 1972. In January, he was honored as founder of the Missouri Governor's Advisory Council on Agriculture during 25th anniversary ceremonies at the council's annual convention. His business career included responsibilities as national sales director for the former Anchor Serum of St. Joseph. Since the early 1970s, Davis had been active in real estate management and investments. He was a real estate broker, and was president and owner of Capitol Staff Realty from 1972 to 1975 and Real Estate America of Houston from 1975 to 1991. Davis graduated from William and Mary College, and attended the University of Virginia and Culver Military Academy. He served with the Missouri Air National Guard, attaining the rank of captain, and the Air Force Reserves. He was a member of the Moila Club, St. Joseph Country Club and Elks Lodge.
In 1950, he married the former Marion Redmond, who survives of the home. Davis was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah A., in. 1978; and a sister, Daphne Nan Davis Oppenheimer, in 1987. Additional survivors are three daughters, Daire Davis Dawkins and Darcie Davis DeVore, both of St. Joseph, and Danielle Davis Kaye of Kansas City; a son, Ronald R. of San Diego; his mother, Helen M. Davis of St. Joseph; a sister, Jacqueline Davis Andrews of Lakeland, Fla.; a brother, True Davis Jr. of Washington, D.C.; and two grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Meierhoffer-Fleeman Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 toright at the funeral home.
May 7, 1992
Dexter Davis, former state official, civic leader, dies
From Staff and Wire reports
Dexter Davis, a businessman and civic leader in St. Joseph and a former Missouri commissioner of agriculture, has died of cancer. He was 63. Davis, who died Tuesday at his home in St. Joseph, had been sick for months with colon and liver cancer.
A lifelong resident of St Joseph, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. True Davis Sr., one of Missouri's pioneering families. Davis was agriculture commissioner from 1965 to 1973 under Gov. Warren Hearnes. During that time, he started the governor's conference on agriculture, the department's export market-program, and was instrumental in setting up the state's meat inspection service. Hearnes and Gov. John Dalton both named him to their staffs as an honorary colonel.
Davis also played a key role in expanding the State Fair in Sedalia. "He probably did more for agriculture here than anybody," said Lowell Mohler, chief administrative officer of the Missouri, Farm Bureau. As the first commissioner who was not a farmer, Davis initially was questioned about his commitment to agriculture, said Jim Sprake, a longtime friend and an official with the Livestock Marketing Association in Kansas City. But Davis used his business skills to move the department into promotion and marketing, Sprake said. He was active in a number of St. Joseph civic and political organizations, including the Buchanan County Young Democrats Club, of which he was a past president. He conducted an unsuccessful bid for 6th District congressman in 1972. In January, he was honored as founder of the Missouri Governor's Advisory Council on Agriculture during 25th anniversary ceremonies at the council's annual convention. His business career included responsibilities as national sales director for the former Anchor Serum of St. Joseph. Since the early 1970s, Davis had been active in real estate management and investments. He was a real estate broker, and was president and owner of Capitol Staff Realty from 1972 to 1975 and Real Estate America of Houston from 1975 to 1991. Davis graduated from William and Mary College, and attended the University of Virginia and Culver Military Academy. He served with the Missouri Air National Guard, attaining the rank of captain, and the Air Force Reserves. He was a member of the Moila Club, St. Joseph Country Club and Elks Lodge.
In 1950, he married the former Marion Redmond, who survives of the home. Davis was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah A., in. 1978; and a sister, Daphne Nan Davis Oppenheimer, in 1987. Additional survivors are three daughters, Daire Davis Dawkins and Darcie Davis DeVore, both of St. Joseph, and Danielle Davis Kaye of Kansas City; a son, Ronald R. of San Diego; his mother, Helen M. Davis of St. Joseph; a sister, Jacqueline Davis Andrews of Lakeland, Fla.; a brother, True Davis Jr. of Washington, D.C.; and two grandchildren.
The funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Friday at Meierhoffer-Fleeman Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 toright at the funeral home.
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