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Reynolds B. Davis Lincoln, NE QCWA # 15108 Chapter 25 |
Reynolds B. Davis, K0GND SK
QCWA Number: 15108
OOTC Number: 4211
Reynolds Blaine Davis
October 5, 1942 - October 3, 2022
Reynolds Blaine Davis, K0GND, age 79, passed away on October 3, 2022, at Tabitha Martha House in Lincoln, Nebraska. Reynolds was born to Blaine and Marie Davis in Hartford, Connecticut, on October 5, 1942.
He and his family moved to Des Moines, IA, where he grew up. Reynolds attended Beloit College, Beloit, WI, and graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, IA, with a major in English and Speech. While at Iowa State, he worked as an announcer for radio stations WOI and KASI. He was named News Director at KFGO radio in Fargo, ND, after graduation.
In 1968 Reynolds moved to Lincoln, where he wrote and produced radio and television commercials for Swanson, Sinkey, Ellis Advertising (now Swanson Russell). He also worked part time for KWHG-FM radio.
Norden Laboratories hired Reynolds as the company's Audio-Visual Director in 1970. At Norden, and later within the Smith-Kline organization that purchased Norden, Reynolds held several positions, including product manager for small animal pharmaceuticals.
Between 1984 and 1988, Reynolds worked in Brussels, Belgium, as the Director of Marketing for Norden in northern Europe. Reynolds retired from SmithKline (now GlaxoSmithKline) in 1990. From 1990 until 2010, Reynolds worked as a marketing and management consultant for small businesses and large corporations, including Merck and Rhone Merieux.
Dedicated to community service, Reynolds was a long-term volunteer for the American Red Cross and also volunteered for other community organizations, including Junior Achievement, March of Dimes, and WasteCap Resource Solutions, Inc. He also served as the announcer for the Lincoln Marathon for 39 years, from 1978 to 2016.
He was the first chairman of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team and, from 1972 to 2016, he was a member of the local Red Cross First Aid Team that provided emergency services at Husker football games, performances at Pershing Auditorium, and other events in Lincoln. Reynolds was a member of the board of directors of the Lancaster County Chapter of American Red Cross (1982-1984, 1993-1999, and 2004-2010), chair of the Red Cross Cornhusker Regional Council covering 30 Nebraska counties (2008-2010), chair of the Nakota Service Council serving Nebraska and South Dakota (2001-2003), a member of the nine-state Red Cross Midwest Service (2004-2008), and a member of the Red Cross National Committee on Nominations (2004 and 2005).
In recognition of his volunteerism, Reynolds received the Nebraska Governor's Award for public service in 1994 and the Lincoln Mayor's Award for outstanding community volunteer service in 1994. Reynolds received the Harold Hill Humanitarian Award from the Lancaster County Chapter of American Red Cross in 2000 and again in 2017. In 1983 and 2017, Reynolds received a Nebraska Gubernatorial Admiralship for lifelong dedication to public service and volunteerism.
Reynolds was an avid amateur radio operator. His first license was issued on June 11, 1956, when he was 13 years. At the time, he was the youngest person in the United States to have an amateur radio license. Twenty-five years later, he was the youngest member of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA).
Reynolds served 10 terms as president of the 300-member Lincoln Amateur Radio Club (LARC) and was on the LARC board of directors for 33 years. He also served as president of Nebraska QCWA Chapter 25 and Nebraska director for United States Air Force MARS (Military Affiliate Radio Systems).
In 1973, Reynolds started the storm spotter network for Lancaster County. As Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) Emergency Coordinator for Lancaster County, he served as the primary net control operator for up to 150 credentialed storm spotters, who manned 55 spotter locations within Lincoln and Lancaster County. He also took an active role in training storm spotters and served as a role model and mentor for coordinators in other counties and states.
Among his many awards, Reynolds was most honored to receive the Jerry Cox Memorial Award, the Jerry Kohn Public Service Award, and the LARC Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club. He also was awarded the Midwest ARRL Division "Amateur Radio Operator of the Year" by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) in 1980 and the Nebraska "Amateur Radio Operator of the Year" in 2002.
Throughout his life, Reynolds was active in amateur radio contesting and received numerous operating awards. Among his accomplishments was contacting radio operators in every country in the world and receiving the WAC and DXCC awards.
Late in his career, Reynolds managed and conducted specialized hospital training programs for the Center for Preparedness Education, a joint program between Creighton University and the University of Nebraska Medical Centers. In 2010, he was selected to be coordinator of the Southeast Nebraska Medical Reserve Corps by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department.
Reynolds loved his family, travel and photography. He was proud of his children's accomplishments and always enjoyed their company. He appreciated the opportunity to explore northern Europe and Egypt while he was working in Brussels. Later in life, he was thrilled to see the Suez Canal while on a cruise, and he enjoyed traveling within the United States to visit his children and celebrate their achievements.
Reynolds is survived by his four children, their spouses and seven grandchildren: Scot Davis, his partner Vernadette Norman and Scot's children Sage and Leith; Charles Davis, Kristina Davis and their children Maddison and Darr; April Davis Campbell, Robert Campbell and their sons Emmett and Solomon; and Rebecca Carol McCuen Krug, Logan Krug and their daughter Rhyan. He also is survived by his brother Gardiner Davis, his sister-in-law Laura Zeigler Davis, and their children Julia, Ellie and Ben; his niece Susan Rentko, his nephew Stephen Buck and their children; and Rebecca's mother, Barbara McCuen. Reynolds was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Anne Buck; Scot, Charles, and April's mother, Carolyn Davis; and his best friend Bear.
There will be no funeral, but a celebration of Reynolds' life will be held during Memorial Day weekend on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Wilderness Ridge Country Club in Lincoln.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial park bench will be purchased through Lincoln Parks and Recreation. Please send your memorial contribution to April Davis Campbell, 1150 Walnut Creek Drive, Stillwater, MN, 55082.