THOMAS M “SCOTTY” DAVIDSON
1926-2016
Thomas M “Scotty” Davidson, 89, slipped the bonds of time to be forever with his Lord on Monday, March 7, 2016. Scotty was born in Great Falls, Montana when the State was still cowboy country before the era of fences. He became an avid hunter and fisherman at an early age. Fishing, in particular, and boating were lifelong pursuits. Scotty also became fascinated with model airplanes. Most of every free moment through high school was spent designing, building and flying his aircraft.
Scotty enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1943 when he was seventeen. He attended the University of Idaho and the University of Colorado in the Naval Officer’s Training program. After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering and naval science, he was commissioned as an officer and spent a year as communications officer on a Destroyer Escort in the Pacific Theater.
Upon returning to civilian life, Scotty joined the Boeing Aircraft Company in Seattle where his experience with model airplanes was an asset as a model designer for the wind tunnel. Four years later, he joined the Power Plant Test Group where he acquired experience with aircraft and rocket engines. In late 1957 he was promoted to the position of Chief of Power Plant Technology when the Space Age was ushered in by the orbital flight of the Russian Sputnik. Scotty’s experience with Rocket Engines was an asset when Boeing chose to bid for the contract to build the first stage of the Saturn V rocket for the Apollo Program. Scotty was selected to be Chief of Power Plant Technology and later as Chief of Technical Staff for this project. In this capacity, he was given the role of Flight Safety audit for the Saturn V launch where he pronounced it as “a go.”
After the accident during the test of the Apollo Command Module, which took the lives of Chaffee, Grissom and White, NASA gave Boeing the role of coordinating the technical activities of all Space Centers for the remainder of Apollo. Scotty was assigned to manage Boeing activities at the Houston Space Center. In this capacity, he was responsible for attesting to the flight readiness of each Apollo launch.
In 1970 Scotty returned to Seattle to direct a program for design and construction of an automated public transportation project for the U.S. Mass Transportation Administration at Morgantown, West Virginia. The pilot project was particularly successful and the system operates yet today, connecting the city center with several campuses of West Virginia University.
Scotty retired from Boeing in 1981 to become Vice President of the Matra-Otis Transportation Company. There he was involved in the construction of an Automated Public Transit System in the town of Lille, France. Later, this company was active in promoting the deployment of similar systems in the U.S.
In 1984 Scotty retired again, this time to go fishing. In his retirement years he and his beloved Edy spent many summer months in their power boat cruising, fishing and exploring the West Coast of British Columbia. Two of their several boats were designed and constructed by Scotty himself.
Scotty was a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church where he has served as an Elder. He has also served as an Elder or Deacon in other churches throughout the years. His passion was the study of Science and Religion; on this topic he remained an avid student and has taught in this capacity in his church.
Scotty is survived by his wife of 45 years Edith “Edy” Davidson, and by his sons Brian Davidson and wife Devra Hayes, Bruce Davidson, and Doug Davidson and wife Lynne, his grandchildren Rusty and wife, Brittany, Bennie and wife, Shelby, Jeffrey, Audrey and Sydney Davidson, and great-grandchildren Austin Davidson, Kalea and Anthony Davidson and Cash and Royal Davidson. He is also survived by his step-children Sheryl Jorgensen and husband Marty Adams, Eric Jorgensen and wife Rose, and Lynn Jorgensen, and by grandchildren Juan Carlos (Carl) Loredo and wife Kelley, Austin Bratton and wife Robin, Forrest Bratton and wife Katy, and Kai Jorgensen, and by his great-grandchildren Ainsley and Gage Loredo, Eleanor, Turner and David Bratton, and Ian Bratton.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 13, 2016 from 4-6 pm at Earthman Funeral Home (6700 Ferris St., Bellaire, TX, 713-667-6505). The funeral service will be Monday, March 14, 2016 at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (5308 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, TX 713-667-1703).
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Scotty’s memory to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church or the Residence Assistance at Bayou Manor. (4141 S. Braeswood, Houston 77025). The family gives special thanks for all the loving support of the caregivers and staff at Bayou Manor Healthcare Center.