My daughter, Kaylyn Michelle Davis, was born 5/25/05 at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas in Houston. The picture on the left was her first after birth. Kaylyn was premature and spent several weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit. The picture on the right was taken yesterday, 5/25/10, at her 5th birthday preschool party. She’s come a long way in five years… so grown-up and ready for Kindergarten!

Kaylyn Michelle Davis – Brian Davis

This obituary is of my maternal grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr., and was featured in the July 1967 edition of On Stream, the Columbia Gulf Transmission Company newsletter:

RALPH S. WILLIAMS JR. DIES OF HEART SEIZURE

Ralph S. Williams Jr., Measurement Superintendent since January 1960, died Tuesday, June 20, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Williams, 45, was attending an Advanced Management Course at the University of Virginia at the time of his death. He was playing golf during a classroom break when he suffered a heart seizure. He died early Tuesday evening at a hospital without regaining consciousness. Funeral services were held Saturday, June 24, in Lancaster, Ohio, his hometown. Burial was in Stoutsville, Ohio.

Surviving are his wife, Jean, two daughters, Teresa, 19, and Christine, 15, and his father, Ralph S. Williams Sr. of Columbus, Ohio.

Williams joined Columbia Gulf in 1954 as Measurement Engineer and later served as Corrosion Engineer and Transmission Engineer before his promotion to Measurement Superintendent. Previously he had worked for Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation and Ohio Fuel Gas Company.

He had served on committees of the American Gas Association, Southern Gas Association, Appalachian Gas Measurement Short Course and the Gulf Coast Gas Measurement Society of Houston. At the time of his death he was president of the Gulf Coast group. Members of that group, in a tribute, said, “Words cannot express the deep loss felt by our membership. Ralph’s knowledge of men and measurement, his dedication to his work and to his company and his many hours of extra commitment on behalf of our measurement science must not go without recognition. He will be missed at future gatherings of measurement men.”

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr.

The above article, “Calculating System Gas Balance”, written by my maternal grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr., appeared on pages 65-68 of the May 1967 issue of Pipe Line Industry.  At the time the article was written, Ralph was a measurement superintendent for Columbia Gulf Transmission Company of Houston.  He passed away the following month, on 6/20/1967, while golfing in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr.

Mike and James Davis Picture

My father, James Michael Davis, and my paternal grandfather, James Nead Davis. Photo taken approx. 1972-1975, in Petronila, Texas.

Brian Davis – James Michael Davis – James Nead Davis

This article is about my maternal grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr., and was featured in the 10/30/1925 edition of a Columbus, Ohio newspaper, possibly The Columbus Dispatch:

Lancaster Boy Is Youngest Flyer

RALPH S. WILLIAMS JR.

LANCASTER, O., claims the youngest air traveler in the country in Ralph Scott Williams Jr., aged 2 1/2 years.

The youngster has taken a number of rides at Norton Field, near Columbus, and more recently took a long ride over Lancaster with Charles Ames, pilot, who was killed near Bellefonte, Pa.

Williams has a certificate from Ames, saying the lad was the youngest the aviator ever carried.

Young Williams says he is thru with flying, however, due to Ames’ untimely death.

Williams is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph S. Williams and formerly lived in Columbus.

Photograph of Airmail Pilot Charles Ames

The following information about Charles Ames was taken from Arago: People, Postage & The Post and the Smithsonian National Postal Museum:

Charles Ames had over 700 flight hours before signing on with the Air Mail Service on December 8, 1920. Ames flew mail out of Hazelhurst Field, New York, and Cleveland, Ohio. On October 1, 1925, Ames disappeared from sight in the mountains near Bellefonte, Pennsylvania while flying a de Havilland airplane on his portion of the Cleveland to New York run. Dozens of groups worked to find Ames over the next several days, including National Guard troops. The 32-year old pilot was finally found in the wreckage of his airplane, where he had died on impact.

Ames had taken off at 9:40 p.m. from Hadley Field in New Brunswick, New Jersey for the regular night flight to Bellefonte. The watchman at the Hartleton, Pennsylvania, an emergency airmail landing field twenty miles east of Bellefonte, reported he heard the airplane flying overhead 11:35 that night. That was the last report of Ames and his airplane before the crash. The search for Ames and his airplane took several days and was the focus of attention across the northeast. Ames’ body was found on October 11, still strapped inside his downed airplane. He had crashed through trees into the north side of a ridge in the Nittany mountains. Ames had apparently been flying low, possibly becoming lost in a dense fog. Ames appeared to have been killed instantly on impact. The airplanes’ wings had been destroyed when the airplane crashed into the trees. The trees were so close that they covered the ship, making it almost impossible to locate.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr.

Terry and Chris Williams Portrait

My aunt, Teresa Lynn Williams, and my mother, Christine Williams. Photo taken approx. 1959, in Houston, Texas.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams)

My maternal grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr., served with the United States Navy during World War II.  At the time this V-Mail was written, Ralph was aboard LCI(L)-11, possibly in Bizerte, Tunisia, North Africa (ATB Bizerte).  He was temporarily stationed there from 11/1/1943 until the assault landings at Anzio, Italy on 1/22/1944.  The V-Mail is addressed to his aunt, Florence Miller (Waits), and her husband, Ernest, in Muskegon, Michigan.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr.

1938 Wellston (OH) High School Football Team Picture

1938 Wellston (OH) High School Football Team Picture (Back)

My maternal grandfather, Ralph Scott Williams Jr., was on the 1938 Wellston (OH) High School Football team.  He is pictured in the front row, second-from-left (# 43).  He wrote the names of all the players on the back of the picture.  Below is the certificate he received for participation on the team.

Ralph Williams 1938 Wellston (OH) High School Football Certificate

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr.