Longtime McMinnville business owner and avid Linfield Athletics supporter Ron Davison passed away Dec. 13 at the Willamette Valley Medical Center. He was 80.
 
A memorial service for Ron Davison is set be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30, inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium on the campus of Linfield University. Macy & Son Funeral Directors is coordinating the arrangements.
 
Davison graduated from McMinnville High School in 1960 and Linfield College (now University) in 1965. He was a lifelong supporter of Grizzly and Wildcat athletics and student-athletes in general.
 
It wasn't until after his Linfield graduation that Davison made his mark with the Linfield athletics program. Though he wasn't involved in sports as a student, he enjoyed watching sports and seeing local teams prosper.
 
Davison became a successful McMinnville businessman, owning and operating Davison Auto Parts since the mid-1960s. But Davison's passion has been local athletic programs and his countless contributions have benefitted Linfield, McMinnville High School, and amateur youth sports.
 
A member of the college's Board of Trustees from 1987 until 1990, Davison has been a major financial contributor for many years to the Linfield TopCat Club, an organization that helps fund the needs of the athletic department not covered by the college budget.
 
In 1988, along with fellow Hall of Fame inductees Jeff Kizer and Steve Davis, he volunteered his time and resources to help construct the current concession stand, ticket booth and restroom structure at Maxwell Field. The three Wildcat supporters were also involved in rebuilding the field's drainage system and completely reseeding the playing surface.

For 15 years, Davison oversaw the ordering and distribution of Linfield athletic apparel at home football games, directing the proceeds back to the athletic department's coffers.
 
More recently, he quietly contributed funds to Linfield Athletics to fund the purchase of a new bus to transport student-athletes and coaches to and from competitions around the Northwest.
 
Along with Kizer, Davison established an endowed account to help supplement costs of athletic facility projects.
 
"Any time when Linfield asked for his support, Ron has stepped forward," then-director of athletics Scott Carnahan said.

A longtime active member of Partners-in-Progress, Linfield's annual fund-raising drive within the business community, Davison received the Linfield Alumni Service Award in 1992, along with his brother Tom '65, and wife, Linda '64.

All three of the Davison's children are Linfield alumni. Beth earned her bachelor's degree in 1989, and Steve and Jill each graduated in 1994.
 
Ron and Tom together took ownership of Davison Auto Parts in 1972 from their father, Charles "Dave" Davison, who in turn had bought the business from his father-in-law, founder L.H "Wat" Watkins. The brothers expanded the McMinnville store, before opening branches in other cities.
 
They also branched out into the winery supply business. Ron's son, Steve, and Tom's son, Dan, now run the chain of auto parts and winery supply stores.
 
Davison Auto Parts has been integral to Linfield Athletics being able to continuously maintain its sports play-by-play broadcasts, first on AM radio, then more recently as a live video stream on the internet. They have also been loyal sponsors in print publications and maintain and visual presence at Maxwell Field with a fixed scoreboard sign.
 
As further measure of his support of youth activities within the community, Ron Davison attended education foundation dinners and other events and sponsored scholarships. He also supported high school FFA programs by purchasing animals at the annual auction at the Yamhill County Fair.
 
Davison also was part of the "chain gang" for decades, helping to hold football chains at MHS games for more than 50 years.
 
Davison was honored at the McMinnville Sports Hall of Fame first award banquet when it was founded in 2007. He was one of 10 volunteers to receive plaques for their service "above and beyond the typical call of duty."
 
He was also enshrined in the Amity Athletic Hall of Fame as a Warrior supporter in 2018.
 
Many local residents called Davison a role model for whom they had tremendous respect. In a 2020 story in the News-Register, Man of the Year Harold Washington called Davison a person who had inspired him to be a good citizen.
 
"If you want to be a good person, then be around good people," Washington said his father advised him. "I was in awe watching people like Ron Davison and so many others."