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Ever ask yourself, "What is a true friend?" What is it that separates just an acquaintance from a true friend? It's primarily sharing life together and knowing that person will always be there for you when you need him or her. Gene Davis was such a person to me for 50 years. We became close friends in high school and continued that relationship as roommates throughout our college years at Lamar University. We were pledge brothers and later active members of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Studying together late into the night, going to parties, dancing with our dates over at the Big Oaks, taking trips all over the country together to attend fraternity Workshops, enjoying Splash Day in Galveston and talking for hours during those long days when we either had nothing planned or no money to do anything else. Those are just a few of the experiences we shared that made Gene a "True Friend" to me.

Gene was always a hard worker and eventually became a brilliant Electrical Engineer. He worked most of his adult life for General Electric. There wasn't hardly anything that "Double E" Davis couldn't fix. I always admired him for his knowledge and many skills. He was a very caring person who gave much of his time in later years to helping those in need who lived in poverty and despair in Central America and in the Caribbean. He also was a guidance counselor for felons in prison who needed the insight and enlightenment that Gene offered them. He accomplished so many things during his life that it would take ten pages to mention them all. He was one unique and special person.

Gene had many other talents other than being an outstanding engineer. He was a certified scuba diving instructor, an expert marksman, member of the N.R.A., a residential electrical system inspector, a very competent carpenter, musician and athlete in his younger days. For many years, even when we were both busy with our own active careers, we would always make time to get together during the Christmas Season to reminisce about our friendship and make a toast to the New Year. Yes, Gene Davis was my friend and I will truly miss him. I am so thankful that we had the opportunity to spend some time together last August when we were part of the TJ Alumni who went down to the Florida Keys to visit and party with Jimmy and Rhonda Johnson. He was happy and we all had a wonderful time together. We had talked only a few days before he passed away about the big Sigma Chi reunion we were going to have in Beaumont the weekend of Oct. 8th.- 10th. Gene was really looking forward to seeing all of his old fraternity brothers who we were very close to during our college years. It doesn't seem real that such a man as Gene is now gone from us who are still here on Earth. I am sure he is either fixing something or working on the electrical system up there in Heaven at this very moment.

He will be remembered by many and thanked by even more for all he did for others during his life. I know that I will always remember my dear friend and buddy for the rest of my life. May all of us who knew Gene remember him and honor his name forever. May he rest in peace with the blessings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for eternity. Until we meet again in the Bonds of Sigma Chi ........................ Goodbye my friend.