Former Travis County Commissioner Ron Davis, advocate for East Austin community, dies at 75

Heather Osbourne
Austin American-Statesman
Commissoner Precinct 1 Ron Davis speaks during a public hearing at the Travis County Commissioners Court in 2007.
Travis County Commissioner Ron Davis, right, is congratulated by Commissioner Margaret Gomez, left, and County Judge Sarah Eckhardt at the Travis County Commissioners Court on Dec. 20, 2016, during a resolution honoring Davis for retiring after 18 years of service representing Precinct 1.

Ron Davis, who served on the Travis County Commissioners Court for 18 years and was a lifelong advocate for East Austin residents, died Tuesday night of a heart attack. He was 75. 

Davis was first elected to represent Precinct 1, which covers northeastern Travis County, in 1998. On the Commissioners Court, Davis was known as a steadfast advocate for Black and Hispanic communities in East Austin until his retirement in 2017. 

Ron Davis Jr., while mourning his father Wednesday, shared his memories with the American-Statesman, saying that the elder Davis loved and served the people of East Austin with everything in him. While Davis accomplished much during his years in elected office, Davis was most proud of his work to establish the Austin Community College campus in Precinct 1, his son said.

"He was a great leader," Davis Jr. said. "He was the toughest man on the earth, but he also had the biggest heart. He was very committed to his passion of being a servant to the people of East Austin.

Before he became a Travis County commissioner, Ron Davis led efforts to address environmental degradation east of Interstate 35 — where city planners in 1928 put in motion a plan to segregate Blacks and Hispanics to live among industrial sites. This 1997 photo shows an abandoned pump station on land that was formerly Texaco's "tank farm" of gasoline storage units at Springdale Road and Airport Boulevard. (The photo was made with a 400 mm lens that compresses space. The house is not as close to the pump station as it may appear.)

"He was a caring father who loved his family more than anything," he said. "He was married to my mom, Annie Davis, for 53 years." 

Davis is survived by his wife, three children, daughters-in-law and six grandchildren. Davis Jr. said his father never liked to have the names of his family members printed in the paper, a tradition they want to honor even after his death.

Davis was a fourth-generation Austinite. He was the grandson of the Rev. S.L. Davis and one of many in his family who made lasting contributions to the Austin area.

The community leader attended the old Anderson High School and earned his bachelor's degree from what is now Huston-Tillotson University and his master's degree in public administration from Southwest Texas State University, which is now Texas State University, where he was a distinguished alumnus.

Even before he was a county commissioner, Davis led efforts to address environmental degradation east of Interstate 35 — where city planners in 1928 put in motion a plan to segregate lacks and Hispanics to live among industrial sites. Most notably, Davis helped investigate and close a "tank farm" of gasoline storage units that was polluting a neighborhood in East Austin, helping organize boycotts and protests when Exxon, one of six companies operating there at the time, refused to relocate.

Former Travis County Commissioner Ron Davis helped investigate and close a "tank farm" of gasoline storage units, seen here in 1992, that was polluting  neighborhoods near Airport Boulevard and Springdale Road in East Austin.

Davis also testified against the Barton Creek Planned Unit Development at the "all-night" Austin City Council hearing in 1990, and he campaigned door-to-door in East Austin to help protect Barton Springs.

In 1992, he was awarded the DeWitty-Overton Award for outstanding public service from the Austin branch of the NAACP for his efforts.

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, praised Davis' longtime activism.

“Ron was a compassionate, collaborative but forceful, voice for our neighbors in Eastern Travis County," Doggett said in a statement Wednesday. "As a fourth-generation Austinite and graduate of Huston-Tillotson University, he brought understanding to his calls for justice and opportunity for all. He was my longtime friend and our strong advocate.”

As a commissioner, Davis fought to make sure East Austin received its fair share of public resources for infrastructure, economic development and social services, including more than $158 million for roads and bridges during his tenure.  

Not only was he successful in pushing for affordable housing options and helping build homes for East Austin residents through a grant with Habitat for Humanity, he also spearheaded an initiative to build a shelter for homeless women and children, which is now operated by the Salvation Army in Precinct 1.  

Davis helped eastern Travis County residents by championing a referendum to fund a nonprofit corporation to build a 53-mile pipeline for a high-quality supply of  drinking water.

Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe, far right, joins Travis County Commissioner Ron Davis, next to him, join Kennedy Ridge residents in groundbreaking ceremonies for water and wastewater services for their colonia in far East Austin. The poor, substandard subdivision had never had running water.

He also spearheaded work on Travis County's economic development program and policies, which included incentives to solicit and attract businesses that would provide job opportunities for low-income individuals who were currently unemployed or underemployed.

Travis County Commissioner Jeff Travillion, who now serves as Precinct 1 commissioner, called Davis a “trailblazer.”  

“Today, Travis County's African American community mourns the loss of a giant,” Travillion said in a statement Wednesday. “Commissioner Ron Davis spent decades fighting for the people of eastern Travis County, working to improve the quality of life in the Eastern Crescent. He was a trailblazer whose love for the Eastern Crescent was only surpassed by his love for his family. I offer my sincere condolences to Commissioner Davis' family and friends.” 

Davis Jr. said the one effort his father made that didn't materialize was trying to persuade the Dallas Cowboys to move their training camp to Travis County. 

Travis County Commissioner Ron Davis escorts Dallas Cowboys representative John Hickman around the Travis County Exposition Center on Jan. 4, 2002, as part of Davis' campaign to lure the professional football team back to Austin for summer training camp.

"Nothing was impossible for him," Davis Jr. said. "He thought America's team should be in Austin."

Davis will lie in state on Feb. 12, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., at Mount Olive Baptist Church, 1800 E. 11th St. in East Austin. 

A Celebration of Life ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Feb. 13 at Mount Olive Baptist Church, followed by his burial at Evergreen Cemetery.  

Funeral services will follow COVID-19 safety protocols, including: 

  • Mandatory Masks 
  • Temperature checks at church enterance
  • Family group seating
  • Friends, every other pew seating
  • Social distancing required   

Some of Ron Davis' many other accomplishments included: 

  • Davis help write rules requiring buffer areas if solid waste facilities are located near schools, churches, residential areas and water wells.
  • He strongly opposed the expansion of northeast Travis County landfills and mining operations attempting to locate next to or near schools, churches and single-family neighborhoods.
  • Davis played a major leadership role in the establishment of the Travis County Health Clinics.
  • In September 2001, he led efforts to create the first regional mobility authority for Central Texas.
  • Davis led efforts to establish the Travis County Wellness Clinic. 
  • Davis advocated and supported an amendment to the Travis County Code that expanded Emergency Assistance Program eligibility criteria for elderly and disabled residents.
Former Travis County Commissioner Ron Davis, 75, died suddenly on Feb. 2 of a heart attack.