Alfred John Davis

Genius, curmudgeon, patriot, politician's nightmare. All are apt descriptions of Al Davis. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a Masters Degree in Education from Rutgers University, friends knew him to be intelligent, funny, generous, inclusive and enormously knowledgeable about a vast array of subjects. Lucky indeed were the strangers to Gulfport who experienced an Al Davis "trash man motorcycle sidecar introductory tour" of Gulfport's alleyways. His home was always open to folks from all walks of life be they friends, friends of friends, foreign sailing teams or touring motorcyclists. Visitors were often surprised to discover that the Bronze Star recipient shared his home with four cats and five rabbits, all "recycled critters." Shortly after moving next to Clam Bayou Estuary in Gulfport, Al realized the dire condition of the water body due to stormwater runoff. Despite the knowledge that his life would be significantly shortened by cancer, he was determined to restore the estuary. He focused on Gulfport's section, an area which is now nearly completely engorged with toxic runoff sediment. For years he sought assistance from politicians, local, state and federal. Initially, he believed that if people fully understood the situation they would facilitate a cure. Who would oppose restoration of one of the Gulf of Mexico's rapidly declining fish and manatee nurseries? Many, it turned out. He received death threats, personal attacks, harassment from politicians, political and agency inaction and retribution from local residents and authorities. Al Davis had a warrior spirit. Knowing that others were concerned, Al founded Gulfport Water Watch, a politically engaged group of courageous citizens whose mission statement was to restore Clam Bayou, protect public access to public water and land, and support downtown Gulfport businesses. His political foes, of whom there were many, feared his eloquent, trenchant, fact-filled public speeches in which Al frequently used the adversary's own quotes and data to prove his point. Al was a fervent believer in free speech. Not just his, but everyone's. Clam Bayou eventually consumed over a decade of Al's life. Ultimately, he won a federal Clean Water Act lawsuit against the EPA. Al was nominated to receive the Spirit of Gulfport Award for his achievement which then was voted down by Gulfport City Council. A navigational channel was dredged for kayaks but not the formerly open water area filled with stormwater runoff. Sadly, he never attained the results for which he had worked so hard - a fully restored estuary. Few recall Al's early appearances at city council when his belief in the political system was intact. He was involved in the CERT program (the city of Gulfport rejected his donation of a motor home which now serves as Lealman's Disaster Communication Vehicle for Pinellas County). He was a member of the Gulfport Historical Society and supported numerous local charities and schools. He played a major role in unifying the Florida anchoring law statewide which protects the environment, preserves the rights of boaters and clarifies the role of municipalities. An Army fixed wing and helicopter aviator during Vietnam, flying was one of Al's many passions. Teaching was another. He taught ethics while serving as the Chairman of the Department of Military Science at the University of Rhode Island, followed by a professorship at the United States Naval War College in Newport where he taught national security decision making. He lived in Germany for several years, ran marathons in Europe and the United States, sailed from Newport to Bermuda many times, sailed in the Tasman Sea and in Vietnam. Al was a yacht broker for Morgan Yachts, scuba diver, accredited marine yacht surveyor, US Coast Guard All-Oceans Master Mariner, charter captain and ASA sailing instructor. He taught captains courses for Sea School, wrote a book on and taught celestial navigation. He was published in sailing and motorcycle magazines. Al rode motorcycles over Alpine mountain passes and throughout Europe, completed a number of US cross-country trips and rode across Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. In 2012, Al completed a challenging two month, 13,000 mile Gulfport-to-the-Arctic Circle-and-back-again motorcycle trip. Al's warrior spirit prevailed against cancer until April 16, 2014. Three, Al's devoted tortoiseshell cat, Eddie Moulton, Al's friend of 65 years and his wife Cindy were by his side when he died. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Jennifer Clark and Brett Waters, and a grandson, Liam Clark. Al Davis often spoke truth to power fearlessly. Truth will win in the end, he believed, and truth knows no compromise. Al was that kind of guy. Hope still remains for Clam Bayou. A celebration of life is planned for later this summer. Memorial donations may be made to Pet Pal Animal Shelter, The House Rabbit Society or The Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.