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Interview wth Doug
Davis
General Introduction:
To initiate
this project I contact the local American Association of Retired Peoples President
John Hagman who identified two of the local members Doug Davis and Bob
Schon who were interested in participating.
Prior to meeting with
Doug and Bob, I identified five broad topics to discuss.
These topics included:
1) Spirituality and religion
2) Personal expression and personal involvement in arts
3) Work and professional life
4) Family
5) Health and physical well-being
I asked Doug and Bob to discuss any or all of these topics in relation to their lives before and after the age of 40. Both men gave me permission to publish their interviews on my web site.
Summary of the Interview:
Saturday, October 21st,
2pm
Doug Davis Age 80
Interviewed at the Urban Harvest Coffee Shop
Wow! Doug is exactly twice my age. Putting my point of study directly in the middle of his life experience.
Doug was born in North East Minneapolis in 1920 as the 5th of 8 children. His father died in an industrial accident soon after his youngest brother was born. This loss along with the coming of the Great Depression posed many challenges to his mother who was raising her 8 children primarily on potatoes. Doug has a great deal of respect and appreciation for Franklin D. Roosevelt who's relief programs proved to be very valuable to his family.
In 1942 Doug enlisted in the Army Engineering Corps after a great deal of soul searching. Doug was exempt from service because he was employed in a company which was supporting the military. He found his Christian (Lutheran) upbringing in direct conflict with his personal sense of obligation to serve the country. After a great deal of contemplation he met with the Pastor of his church who assured him that killing in wartime was seen by the church as not breaking the 5th commandment. After gaining this reassurance he enlisted for service choosing a service related role rather than one in the infantry.
His enlistment eventually placed him on an Invasion Landing Sip "ILS" heading for Utah Beach on the shores of Normandy. With a small bible in his hand, Doug prayed for his and his battalion's survival. By the time they reached the shores, Doug's prayers had quelled his fears. This comfort strengthened Doug's faith during the next two and a half years where he spent his most of his time engineering emergency landing fields for English fighters about 12 miles outside of Cambridge.
In 1945 Doug returned home to Minnesota. The war had changed many of his perceptions and ambitions. Instead of continuing his pursuit of a career in engineering, Doug's interests had turned to education, religion and politics. His first inclination was to become a preacher, but he later decided to get a bachelors degree in Education with a minors in Political Science and History. Thanks to the recently enacted GI Bill his full tuition, books and living wages were fully covered. Doug noted that he sees the GI Bill, Medicare and Social Security to be the three best benefits of being an American citizen beyond our the Bill of Rights. He also pointed out that the GI Bill educated over 1/2 of the 11 million people who served in WWII. This he believes kick-started the country toward its future successes.
Doug was married in 1949 and had four children in the 15 years following. Simultainiously, Doug began teaching in Sauk Centre and in 1951 he returned to Minneapolis where he taught for a year at the University of Minnesota. The next year he began a 30 year career as a faculty member at South High School in South Minneapolis. While at South, he taught English, American History, Economics and Psychology. While in his 40's Doug's wife began to suffer from a severe form of mental illness requiring her to be permanently institutionalized. This left Doug serving as the single parent for their four children, the youngest, 3 years old. Even with these additional challenges, Doug went on to earn a Masters Degree in Economic and Curriculum and Instruction.
Beyond his career and family, Doug has been and remains very politically active. As a young man he "door-knocked" for many political campaigns, encouraging people to vote. After returning from the war, he door knocked for both the Humphrey and Truman campaigns. He is very proud of the fact that he has voted in every political election. H even participated in the first military absentee ballot, voting for Roosevelt while stationed in France in 1944. In addition to national politics, has served in a wide range of political capacities including Union Steward for the Teachers Union, lobbied for a wide range education issues, and currently lobbies for seniors. He is personal friends with Paul Wellstone and Martin Sabo. Doug is frustrated and bewildered by the fact that so few people are interested in and/or involved in politics these days. He says that he in the only person who get the newspaper in the four-plex he currently lives in. He is dedicated to his political party, church and family.
Doug's primary means of personal expression are through his writing, teaching and public speaking. He still writes daily and speaks publicly on are regular basis. As his life progressed, particularly after the war, his view of religion and spirituality turned from an interest in personal salvation to a greater interest the social contribution. He sees Jesus more as an example of a "Good Shepherd" than a an icon of personal salvation. Doug's interest in and commitment to writing and teaching are strongly aligned with this belief. He is more an advocate of humanitarianism than a specific religion.
When asked about his involvement in the Arts, he expressed disappointment at the fact that he could not draw well. He has a great deal of interest in drama and served as the Director of the Drama Society while teaching at South. Doug feels that television had a devastating impact on the publics interest in live theater. Still today, Doug attends plays at the Guthrie Theater, the Minnesota Orchestra, operas at the NorthStar opera, and occasional exhibitions at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minnesota Museum of American Art and Walker Art Center. He even mentioned that one summer while working downtown, he visited the Walker everyday at lunch.
Doug appears to me to be in great health. When asked about his health he laughs and explains that its all luck and genetics. Doug and his oldest brother are the only surviving children in his family. Doug smokes and has smoked since he was in his 20's. He regularly meets a group of friends, of which he is the oldest, at Matt's Hamburgers for cheese filled hamburgers called "Juicy Lucy's" and beer. Doug explained that worst thing about "Juicy Lucys" is how easy they are to get on your tie. During this interview, I bought Doug his favorite coffee drinks, a café au late. When pushed a little, he confesses that he does exercise by walking five days a week with weights. Family, friends and his thirst for knowledge seem to be what keeps Doug in great form and spirit.