Elmer O. Davis Jr.

E. O. Davis, Jr. 91, passed away on December 5, 2016 in Cheyenne. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida on February 26, 1925, the son of E. O. and Luelle Davis, and grew up in Fitzgerald, Georgia. After graduating high school in 1943 he enlisted in the Army intending to become a pilot. The day before earning his wings he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever, which ended his military flight career. He became a flight line mechanic, and was posted to twenty duty stations before mustering out in 1946.

He then started college at Bowling Green, Kentucky with the goal of realizing his life-long ambition to be a certified public accountant. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Denver in December, 1949, and hired on with Raab, Roush and Gaymon for the 1950 tax season, his first of 30 consecutive tax seasons. He served as President of the Wyoming Society of CPAs in 1967-68, served multiple terms on the Wyoming State Board of Accountancy and was instrumental in the passage the CPA Act of 1975. He was also named one of very few honorary members of the State Society.

E. O. believed strongly in service to ones profession and community and chose Frontier Days as his public service. He started working in the Contestants office in 1950 and earned his Heel’s badge in 1960. He was promoted to Contestants Committee chairman for the 1967, 1968 and 1969 shows and was then asked to be General Chairman for the 1970, 1971 and 1972 rodeos. During his general chairmanship he named the Dandies (1970), presided over construction of the then-new B stand, took the show to 9 days and added a parade (all 1971). After serving as General Chairman he served on the Planning Committee and was inducted into The Frontier Days Hall of Fame in 2003.

While at Denver University E. O. met Marion Widder, whom he wooed and wed in June 1950. They were together 53 years. He was an avid fly fisherman, amateur meteorologist, and had 51 consecutive vegetable gardens. E. O. loved music especially big band, and always enjoyed a good joke. Services will be December 13, at 10am at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel. In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to the Old West Museum. He was preceded in death by his wife Marion, and is survived by his son D. J. and daughter Kim.