Eldon Earle Davidson
Savannah – Eldon Earle Davidson was born in Dennis, MA. on May 2, 1920. He attended Dennis schools and graduated from Yarmouth High School in June of 1938. While in high school he played varsity football and basketball. He was President of the Student Council and the Student Body as well as the Stamp Club, Hi-Y and Aero Club. He entered Norwich University, a Military College, in September 1938 and graduated in May of 1942 with a BS degree in Biology. He refused a Commission in the Army and became a Naval Aviation Cadet. He graduated from the N.A.S. Pensacola, FL on April 1, 1943 and was selected for a Commision in the U.S. Marine Corps where he served as a Pilot from 1943 to 1963 when he Retired. While in the Marine Corps he attended and graduated from the U.S. U.S. naval Post-graduate School with a MS in Meteorology in 1949 and graduated from the U.S. Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School in 1954. While in the Marine Corps he served two combat tours in World War II beginning in the South Pacific and ending in North China. He also served in Korea during that War. Prior to Retiring from the Corps, he served a tour with the aviation support group for President Eisenhower’s trips to Europe and South America.

Davidson spent the years from 1936 – 1990 as a pilot with world wide experience in single and multi engine aircraft beginning with wood and canvas constructed aircraft to supersonic single and multi-engine aircraft.

After retiring from the Corps, he became the Assistant Manager at the Raleigh-Durham Airport from 1963-1964. He was hired as the Executive Director of the Savannah International Airport effective December 1, 1964 and served there until December 31, 1991.

While in Savannah, he served as the Chairman of the International Economic Committee from 1975-1976 for the Airport Operator’s Council International. He also served on the Board of Directors from 1976-1979. He received his AAE Accredited Airport Executive rating in 1964 from the American Association of Airport Executives after taking an eight hour exam on Economics of Transportation, Principals of Airport Management and submitting a Thesis on “Organization and Operation of an Airport Crash, Fire and Rescue Unit.” He served on the Association’s Board of Directors from 1972-1974 and on The Examining Board from 1971-1976. He joined the Southeastern Airport Manager’s Association in 1963 and served as President from 1973-1974.
He served on the Savannah Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 1967-1971, the Savannah Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Board from 1985–1991 and the Salvation Army Board from 1970-1973. He was a Director on the Board at Atlantic Bank and Trust Company and later an Advisory Director on the Board of Bank South from 1968-1990. He was a member of Leadership Savannah Class of 1965 and served as a member of CUTS committee of the MPC from 1966-1991. He was President of the Kiwanis Club of Savannah from 1973-1974 and was a member of the Rotary Club of Savannah from 1987-2004. He was a past member of the Navy League of Savannah

Survivors include his wife, the former Mary Jeannette Cocreham of Corpus Christi, Texas; sons and daughter-in-law, Earle May Davidson II of Memphis, TN; James Eldon Davidson of Savannah, William Daniel & Leslie Davidson of Santa Fe, NM CA? and grandchildren, Ashley of U.S.C.G. and Carley of Memphis, TN.

Visitation will be 6-8 on Friday May 18th at Fox and Weeks Islands Chapel on Highway 80 East.

Memorial Services will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday May 19th at St. Francis of the Islands Episcopal Church with the Reverend Jim Shumard officiating.

Remembrances: St. Francis of the Islands Episcopal Church, 590 Walthour Road, Savannah, GA 31410.