Former Alderman Bob Davis died Wednesday following a long bout with cancer.
Davis, 56, served northeast Fayetteville residents on the City Council from 1999 to mid-2004. He was a long-time member of the city Advertising and Promotion Commission before stepping down in 2013 because of health concerns.
“I’ve never met a finer man in my life,” Marilyn Heifner, commission executive director, said Wednesday. “He truly looked out for the public interest in everything he did.”
Davis owned Eason Insurance and was an advocate for bringing new businesses to town.
He served as chairman of the Fayetteville Economic Development Council before those efforts were taken over by the Chamber of Commerce.
“He was always fighting to bring jobs in and create economic opportunities and make Fayetteville a business-friendly community,” Steve Rust, former council CEO, said.
Davis filled multiple leadership roles at Central United Methodist Church.
“Bobby poured himself into our church,” Brian Swain, church administrator, said Wednesday. “He and (his wife) Sally — they’ve been very instrumental in every way of helping lead the church over the past 25 years.”
Rev. Tony Holifield, former senior pastor at Central, remembered looking out on the congregation and seeing the Davises to his right almost every Sunday for the past 18 years.
“When I think of Bobby Davis, I think of someone with a very positive, faith-based attitude that lived life with a desire to serve Jesus Christ in every arena,” Holifield said.
Davis is survived by his wife of 32 years and his two daughters, Sarah Margaret and Laura.
He coached his daughters’ sports teams and was a die-hard Razorbacks fan who rarely missed a home football or basketball game. He earned a business degree from the University of Arkansas in 1979.
As a City Council member, Davis sought to improve the city’s street and trail network.
“He worked on trails before they were there,” Sally Davis said. “It was just an idea on a piece of paper at that point. But he liked to be able to see it all come to fruition, even though he wasn’t on the City Council any more.”
Davis supported a tax-increment financing district that paid to demolish the former Mountain Inn hotel and advocated for a similar financing mechanism for the Arkansas Research and Technology Park. In general, he sought to rein in unnecessary spending, and he kept a close eye on city finances.
“He always looked at things from a very analytical perspective,” Swain said. “He had an ability to sort through the information in front of him and discern which path to take. Bobby served the city very well because he was so thorough.”
“Myself and my daughters — we are all better people having him as a husband and father,” Sally Davis said. “He will forever drive the actions and decisions we make in our lives.”
A memorial service is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday at Central United Methodist Church, 6 W. Dickson St.