GHS To Honor One of Its Own

Article in today's Georgetown Times about my brother, Ray.




Published on 5/23/2008
Written by Scott Harper

Major Jakie Ray Davis Jr. will be back at his alma mater Tuesday night to receive the honor of being named the Georgetown High School Alumni of the Year.

It is the second time the award has been presented to a former student who — according to the Alumni Association selection committee — exemplifies the school. Last year, the honor went to 1995 graduate Jared Causey.

Since graduating in 1987, Davis has made a career in the military. In fact, he joined the Army National Guard before he received his high school diploma.

He went on to graduate from Coker College in 1992 and then he returned to the Guard for flight training.

He spent most of the ’90s climbing the ranks and working on his aviation skills while stationed at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Columbia.

Davis served in Operation Southern Watch in Kuwait from July, 1999 until March, 2000. He also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2004 to Novovember 2005. He is expected to return to Iraq for another tour of duty later this year.

“It was stressful and exciting and overwhelming at times,” Davis — who will soon be promoted to battalion commander — said of his tours in Kuwait and Iraq. “There were some times it got boring but those times were few.”

Davis said he now has more than 2,000 hours of flight in the Apache Helicopter — the same type he flew to Georgetown last week for a quick stop where he spent some time with his family.

His sister, Lynn Lambert, was the one who nominated him for the Alumni of the Year Award.

“I was a bit surprised,” Davis said when he learned about the honor. “ There are probably a lot of people more deserving. I am very humbled. I know my sister is proud of me and I appreciate her nominating me.”

GHS Principal Dr. Mike Cafaro said Davis is a good example of what can be accomplished.

“He is a very positive reflection on the school district. It proves you can come from small town America and do big things for society,” Cafaro said.

Along with his sister, Davis was greeted at the Georgetown Airport by his parents Jackie and Anna Davis and his nieces Shelby and Savannah Lambert. His nephew Brandon Lambert, a GHS sophomore, was unable to attend the reunion.

The ceremony inducting Davis as the latest Alumni of the Year will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the school.