Lt. Col. James "Monty" Davis

A Marine’s Marine, Lieutenant. Colonel. James Montgomery “Monty” Davis brought discipline and a strong work ethic to every aspect of his life. Davis was born in Ellijay, Georgia, to Garvin and June Davis on July 12, 1954. At a young age, he developed an appreciation for the outdoors and a powerful and permanent understanding of the importance of family. As a child, he was very close to his two sisters. His family’s small farm was located near his grandparents’ home, further cementing his sense of sharing and teamwork within a tight-knit group. Deeply involved in school and community at an early age, Davis credited his parents’ example for his desire to serve to the best of his ability. He was an above average athlete in elementary school and was an active Boy Scout. His goal-oriented focus strengthened throughout high school. So, too, did his social participation, as he was active in many clubs, including Athlete’s G Club and FFA. Anxious to work, no matter how strenuously, to assist his family, he held full-time jobs during the summer in his high school years. Davis continued to work part-time and participate in sports while attending Georgia Southern College. He also became a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. It was in college that his military career began. He enrolled in the Platoon Leader Class program of the Marine Corps and completed its junior and senior courses. Upon graduation from college, Davis accepted a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Lt. Col. Davis’ Marine Corps career spanned 20 years. He attended the Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. He then was assigned to train new inductees at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina. In three years, Davis trained more than 5000 recruits. He was then named inspector instructor in San Juan, Puerto Rico, monitoring the operations and training of close to 100 Marine reservists. The duty assignment most memorable to Davis was his tour as operations officer of 7th Engineer Support Battalion, during which he saw combat in Southeast Asia. As second-in-command with the battalion, he also saw combat in Desert Storm in 1990. Davis’ last active assignment was with the U.S. Support Group in Haiti, where he served as an executive officer. Retiring in October 1997, he returned to Ellijay, ever determined to remain near his family and serve the community that he loved. While stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana, Davis met Kitty Lea Evans. They were married in Ellijay on July 2, 1999. Upon retiring from the Marine Corps, he began work as senior naval instructor for the Junior ROTC program at Lassiter and Pope High Schools. “Monty just right away took charge. He instituted a lot of discipline,” said Senior Chief (YNCS) Hank Lasek, Davis’ co-worker for three years at Lassiter High School. “He was really onto the character traits like honesty and discipline.” “Monty Davis had a unique blend of toughness and tenderness,” said Greg Schillo, president of the Cadet Parent Associate for JROTC. “As soon as the Colonel would speak, they started listening,” said Lasek. “A lot of kids who weren’t in the unit would come in to listen to him talk. He was like a magnet.” “There was just this aura about him and you couldn’t help but respect him,” said Amanda Peck, a JROTC student. “He was such a father figure to us.” Two years after Davis began working with the program at Lassiter, it was recognized as a distinguished unit, a recognition given only 16 percent of the JROTC units in the country. Davis maintained his active role in community activities. He began participating in local Big Brother programs when he was in college and continued throughout his life, determined that no matter what his assignment or career, he would remain involved. In 1996, he served as chair of the Physical Arrangements Committee for the 1996 Boy Scout Fall Encampment. Davis died on Thursday, August 24, 2000, in his yard, after being struck by lightening. In addition to his wife, Kitty, Lt. Col. Davis is survived by his daughter, Cassie; his father and mother, Garin and June; sisters and brothers-in-law, Daphne and Roy Duvall, Patti and Jerry Vick; and five nieces and nephews, one grandniece.