Robert P. Davison

Retired attorney and civic leader Robert P. Davison of Englewood died April 22, 2007. He was 86. Robert P. Davison was born on Valentines Day, February 14, 1921 in Montgomery, Alabama. He graduated as a Geological Engineer from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden in 1943 and served as a second lieutenant during World War II with the 977th Engineer Maintenance Company. Following the war's end, he continued to serve in the Army Reserves as a Captain. Robert P. Davison married Stasia Wolak of New York Mills, New York on September 26, 1945. Afterwards, the couple moved to Boulder where Robert P. Davison attended Law School at the University of Colorado. He graduated in May 1950 at the top of his class and was hired by the newly formed Holland & Hart law firm in Denver. During his 26-year career with the firm he became a nationally recognized expert in mineral law. During the Korean War, the Army Reserves recalled Captain Robert P. Davison for two years of active duty between 1950-1952. He spent the first year working as project engineer on a secret nerve gas project at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal before going to I-Corps in Korea for the duration of his service. He resigned from the Army Reserves in 1952. Robert P. Davison was active with many different law groups, businesses, and civic activities during his life. In law, he was a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Denver Bar Association. Robert P. Davison specialized in the practice of mineral law and was an active member, director, and past president of the Colorado Mineral Law Association, and a member of the Board of Editors that wrote the American Law of Mining. Robert P. Davison was also a visiting lecturer at the Law School at the University of Colorado. In businesses located in Denver Robert P. Davison was a director of Mesa Fiberglass Corporation between 1973-1987and QED Oil Company between 1980-1990. In other parts of Colorado, he published the Telluride Times newspaper from August 1975- October 1981 and operated a ranch outside Elizabeth. Outside Colorado, Robert P. Davison was a director from 1968-1991 of Torchmark Insurance Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange company based in Birmingham, Alabama and operated a second ranch in Samson, Alabama. In Civic activities, Robert P. Davison was the Mayor of Cherry Hills Village for three terms between 1960-1966. In the 1960's, former Governor John Love appointed him president of the Denver Community College Development Program. Between 1971-1972, he served as Denver Club President for two terms. From 1970-1985, he was a Denver Zoo Trustee before receiving the title of Emeritus Trustee. He is preceded in death by a son John W. Davison formerly of Boulder City, Nevada, and is survived by his wife Stasia and daughter Nancy Wyman of Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, and two sons, Robert P. Davison III of Durango, Colorado and Thomas R. Davison of Enterprise, Alabama, and four grandchildren. Cremation is planned. A private service will be held at Fairmont Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to the Denver Zoological Foundation 2300 Steele St. Denver, CO. 80205 Attention: Development Department