Capt. Thomas G Davis

Arizona, Peoria - Thomas Gaston Davis, Born April 25, 1936 passed away June 1, 2013 at his home in Peoria, Arizona, with his family by his side. He is survived by the love of his life Roxana Lee Petruniak; daughters Susan Jeanette Jennings and Patricia Ellen Kelley; son Jeffrey Scott Davis; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Tom was raised by his grandmother in Collierville, TN. He attended Christian Brothers Academy where he played varsity baseball. He later played AAA baseball in the St. Louis Cardinals system as a pitcher. It was during this period that he volunteered for a CIA mission to Cuba under the guise of a baseball exchange program. He narrowly missed being executed by the Castro regime.

From Joe Kernan: “He showed me how to fold a baseball cap so it would fit in your hip pocket. When you took it out of your pocket you gave a flip of the wrist and the cap was ready for your head. I think one of the funniest stories he told me occurred when a gate agent informed Tom that he, the gate agent owned the airplane when it was on the gate. Tom instructed the co-pilot and flight attendants to gather up their stuff and were departing the airplane to the astonishment of the agent, who said ,"What are you doing"? Tom replied when you get the airplane started and to a position where I own it call us and we'll take over. Classic Tom.”

He represented the Mohawk pilots in the seniority list integration during the Mohawk/Allegheny merger. After that he wrote the Merger policy for the Air Line Pilots Association. Despite considerable pressure he never wavered in his resolve to obtain a fair deal for his pilots. Tom was heavily involved in finishing up the 1980 Contract Negotiations considered by many to be the best contract the pilots ever had with the airline. During the USAir/Piedmont merger he represented the USAir pilots in a successful integration of the seniority list. After the first bankruptcy he was chairman of the Employee Benefits Committee that represented all employees before the Bankruptcy Court. He also was the Chairman of the Soaring Eagles Retirement Committee. In that role he oversaw a massive series of lawsuits to recover the pilots’ retirement plan. His computer and teaching skills brought the Soaring Eagles into the 21st Century.

Tom was respected not only by the pilots he represented, but senior management as well, a man of honesty and integrity they could do business with.

Tom was a lifetime member of MENSA.

The family will receive friends Saturday, June 15, 2013 from 12:30 until 2 p.m. and the Memorial Service will follow at 2 p.m. all at the Brantley Funeral Home in Olive Branch, Inurnment at Magnolia Cemetery in Collierville TN. Online condolences may be made at www.BrantleyFuneral.com

Brantley Funeral home

662-895-2310.