In Memoriam: Ralph Morgan Davison

TAPPI membership was shocked and saddened to learn of the recent and sudden passing of Ralph Davison, a highly-respected colleague and long-time TAPPI member. Davison, for decades, provided profound metallurgical knowledge and excellent guidance - in his characteristic baritone - to the TAPPI C&ME steering committee and the entire industry regarding an important subject of widespread interest and concern--stainless steels, where to use them and how to fabricate them.

Ralph's erudite contributions to TAPPI via his dedicated committee participation were greatly respected, valued, and appreciated and have left the industry an important legacy. He published many enduring papers and presentations for the paper industry, including articles in TAPPI Journal throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He received the Anliker Award in 2007. On behalf of all members of the TAPPI community, we extend sympathy and condolences to Ralph's wife Nan, and to his family, in their sadness and great loss.

Ralph Morgan Davison was born April 13, 1944, in Houston, Tex., USA, a son of the late Floyd A. and Willie M. (Donaho) Davison.

He graduated from Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio, Tex., and then attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning a B.S. degree in chemical metallurgy in 1966 and an Sc.D. in physical metallurgy in 1970. Just after graduation, he became the first young member elected to the MIT Corp. for his service to MIT during the "days of rage" that followed Kent State and the bombing of Cambodia.

Ralph worked as a metallurgist for moe than 30 years. In 1987, he co-founded a metallurgical consulting company, Technical Marketing Resources Inc. He was an expert on the metallurgy, selection, specification, and application of stainless steels. He was a Fellow of the ASTM and served as the United States Representative on the ISO committee on stainless steel standards. His work took him all over the world. He had a vocation, not a job, and considered the goals of safety and responsible stewardship of our resources to be lifelong obligations.

Ralph found service to the Episcopal Diocese of Maine to be among the most satisfying tasks of his life. He was a member of the Diocesan Council and served a term on the Bishop’s Standing Committee. He also gutted houses in New Orleans with Bishop Chilton Knudson after Hurricane Katrina.

At St. George’s-York Harbor, he was a lay Eucharistic visitor, a lay reader, and a formidable lay preacher. He also made coffee on Sunday mornings. He especially enjoyed serving as stewardship chairman and helping to call two new rectors as a member of two discernment committees.

He also served his community. He chaired the Cable TV Regulatory Commission for York, Ogunquit, Wells, and North Berwick in Maine for many years. He received an Outstanding Service Award from the Town of York for his role in the Tower Task Force. He was also a Founding Member of the board of the Ogunquit Arts Collaborative.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Nancy (Reynolds) Davison, two sisters (Marilyn Butcher and her husband Larry of Hunt, Tex., and Martha Henderson and her husband Stanley of Athens, Ga.), as well as seven nieces and nephews and 13 great-nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at St. George’s Episcopal Church, York Harbor, Maine, on Saturday, November 1, at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. George's Episcopal Church, Rector Discretionary Fund, PO Box 364, York Harbor, ME 03911.