South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford and the South Georgia Technical College faculty and staff were saddened to learn of the passing of retired Caterpillar Heavy Equipment Dealers Service Technology instructor, Richard “Ricky” Donald Davis, 61, of Buena Vista, GA.
He passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at his residence. He is survived by his loving wife, Donna, and other family and friends. A celebration of life will be held on February 22, 2020, from 1:00-3:00pm at the Davis residence, 45 Ronnie Road, Buena Vista, GA.
“On behalf of everyone at South Georgia Technical College, I would like to extend our condolences to the family and many friends and colleagues of Rick Davis,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “We were saddened to learn of his loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected.”
Rick Davis retired from South Georgia Technical College as the instructor for the Caterpillar Heavy Equipment program in 2018, which was the college’s 70th anniversary. He was a unique part of the college’s proud history and legacy. At his retirement reception, there were three generations of diesel instructors covering nearly that entire 70-year span. Davis was an instructor at South Georgia Tech for 33 years.
Jack Busby, who was the Diesel Technology Instructor at South Georgia Technical College from the early 1950’s until the 1980’s taught Rick Davis in 1978. Rick Davis taught two of South Georgia Tech’s current Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology instructors, Donald Rountree in the mid 1980’s and Kyle Hartsfield in 2008. Hartsfield taught with his former instructor from 2012 until 2017. He returned to SGTC as an instructor in 2019. Rountree and Hartsfield are continuing the legacy of Jack Busby and Rick Davis.
“Rick Davis was a very special individual,” said President Watford. “He was an integral part of a tremendous legacy of outstanding diesel equipment students and instructors here at South Georgia Tech. He was a man with extraordinary work ethics, knowledge, integrity, and wisdom, and he shared those traits with his co-workers and students. He was a mentor to many people at South Georgia Tech and he will be missed.”
In memory of Rick Davis and in honor of the tremendous legacy that he was a part of at South Georgia Technical College, the family plans to establish an endowed scholarship for the SGTC Caterpillar Think Big Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technology program. The program has been recognized as one of the best in the nation as well as internationally.
Donations to the SGTC Rick Davis Caterpillar Scholarship can be made to the South Georgia Technical College Foundation, P.O. Box 6102, Americus, GA 31709. All donations will be acknowledged to the family.
“South Georgia Technical College and his students meant so much to Ricky. He was so proud and pleased of his graduates. I know this is something that he would have wanted and this is a way to honor his memory and continue his legacy with the Caterpillar program at South Georgia Tech,” said his wife, Donna Davis.
Way-Watson Funeral Home of Buena Vista, GA, was in charge of Davis’ arrangements.
Rick Davis and his family are shown together at his retirement celebration at South Georgia Technical College.
: Dr. John Watford is shown above with Rick Davis when he retired from South Georgia Technical College.