Ronald R. Davis

1931 - 2021

Ronald R Davis, age 89, of Pompano Beach, FL, the first Supervisor of Music for the Broward County School District, passed from this life on January 11, 2021 at John Knox Village. Mr. Davis was born as the youngest of 6 children on June 11, 1931 in East Liverpool, Ohio, to James Edward and Sally Leah Davis. Graduating from ELHS in 1949, he ranked academically as the top male in his class of 273. After graduation, he was accepted to the Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory of Music in Berea, Ohio as a scholarship trumpet major in Music Education. He was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, serving as steward and song director, leading his fraternity to winning the Inter-Fraternity Sing competitions. In addition, he was director of the Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity chorus and led the group on tour.

In his sophomore year, he became a church choir director, a beginning of over 40 years in that capacity. Other college honors were: "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities", Omicron Delta Kappa (Men's Honorary), Junior Class Treasurer, and Member Band & Acapella Choir.

Upon graduation in 1953 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, Mr. Davis enlisted in the Army during the Korean War and served for 3 years in the U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, NY.

In 1954, he married his college sweetheart, D. J. Hunker. In 1956, upon his discharge from the Army, he accepted a position as choral Director at the Jr.- Sr. High School in North Olmstead, Ohio.

In 1960, he was hired as choral director at Ft. Lauderdale High School where he met with just 27 students on his first day. During his 6 years at FLHS, the choral department grew to 450 students and was recognized as one of the finest choral programs in the state, earning top honors at annual competitions. This phenomenal growth was accomplished by testing the musical aptitude and voices of every incoming student. Former students recall his ability on the first meeting of a new class of 60-100 students, to call each of them by their first and last names. His male chorus of 150 young men toured the state and was invited to perform at the Florida Music Educators Convention in 1965. In addition, 2 of his 6 choruses were invited to perform at the World's Fair in New York City and on the Capitol steps in Washington, D.C. His Christmas concerts at War Memorial Auditorium featured "The Singing Christmas Tree" and attracted thousands in attendance, as well as his annual productions of Broadway musicals.

In 1966, he completed his Master of Music degree from the University of Miami, where his Master's thesis "The Development of A Proposed Handbook of the Florida Vocal Association" was adopted by and became the official handbook of that organization. In that same year, he was selected as the first Music Supervisor of the Broward County School District (at that time, the 5th largest school district in the country) and served in that position for 19 years. During this time, he supervised the music programs of 120 schools and 200 teachers. Additionally, he founded the Broward Music Education Association and was the founding president of the Support Services Personnel Association. During his tenure, he was selected as a Member of the Manhattan Music Curriculum Program, a government funded project to develop music curriculum, and served as secretary and president of the Florida Music Supervision Association. He served many times as conductor of workshops, choral clinician and adjudicator.

From 1960-1990 he served as church choir director at the Ft. Lauderdale First Baptist Church, the Pompano Beach First Methodist Church, the Community Presbyterian Church of Deerfield Beach, and the First Congregational Church of Ft. Lauderdale. For 4 years, he directed the Alumni Chorus at the FLHS all class reunions. In 1985, Mr. Davis retired after 32 years in music education and church choir direction.

In 2002, Baldwin-Wallace College honored Mr. Davis as a recipient of the "Outstanding Educator" award. In 2003, he produced a double CD of choral selections from his years at FLHS and sent them to over 300 of his former students with an overwhelming response of gratitude.

In 2005, he and his wife became residents of John Knox Village, a CCRC in Pompano Beach. In 2007, Ron recruited and founded a men's chorus entitled The Villagers. Under his direction the group grew to 60 members, ages 65-100, who performed for adoring audiences in and out of the Village. Through performances for the residents, and sponsored by the Village Rotary Club, the chorus raised $60,000 for JKV's new health center. As a Rotarian, he was awarded the Paul Harris Award for "Service Beyond Self". In 2015, he retired as director, but the legacy lives on.

He is survived by Dee, his wife of 66 years, a son Duane Cameron Davis and his wife Kim, of Dallas, Texas; a daughter Lorrie Brooke Weathers and husband Mack of Boulder, CO; and 3 grandchildren: John Davis and Brooke Davis of NYC, and Taylor Weathers of Los Angeles.

A Celebration of Life service will be held in the future. As expressions of sympathy, donations to the John Knox Village Scholarship Fund or charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated by the family.