Horace B. "Jim" Davidson Jr., M.D.

Horace B. “Jim” Davidson, Jr., M.D., age 90, of Columbus, Ohio passed away peacefully at home on June 30, 2026, with his loving wife Sandy, of 68 years by his side. A prominent pathologist and clinical laboratory director in Central Ohio, Jim was a1960 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Jim completed his pathology training at the Mayo Clinic in 1965.

Following his residency and time as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force and a pathologist at Andrews Air Force Base Hospital, he returned to Columbus to join his father in operating the Davidson Laboratory in downtown Columbus. Dr. Davidson served as the Chairman of the Committee on Laboratory Medicine and the Committee on Blood Banks for the Ohio State Medical Association. His expertise supported critical patient care functions including tissue analysis, blood banking, and comprehensive medical diagnostics.

During his career as a pathologist, Dr. Davidson made routine visits to rural satellite hospitals in small communities that were too small to have their own laboratory supervisor, including Waverly, Pomeroy and O’Bleness in Athens.

His professional contributions aligned closely with the growth of St. Ann’s Hospital in the 1980’s, as independent pathology laboratories like his contracted with community hospitals to oversee laboratory operations during a period of departmental expansion and transition to a co-ed patient base and the hospital’s major relocation to Westerville in 1984.

After a distinguished career spanning decades in medicine and pathology, Dr. Davidson retired at the age of 52, sold the lab to Clinical Pathology and channeled his analytical expertise into a passionate second chapter as an amateur naturalist.

Jim had shared with his brother and sister, during one of their spring opening trips to the U.P. cabin, that the main reason he went through all of the medical training that he did was so he could make enough money to be able to retire fairly early in life and become a naturalist, which is what he always wanted to do but knew that he couldn't make a living of it. He actively volunteered with the Columbus Audubon Society and Franklin County Metro Parks, contributing to environmental education and community outdoor initiatives in the region he had long served medically.

Jim first joined the Columbus Audubon Society in 1967 and quickly became a leader in preservation, conservation and education in the central Ohio area. Jim has presented hundreds, if not more, natural history and nature programs throughout Ohio at various programming events, workshops, garden clubs and local interests group meetings. Additionally, Jim has led many field trips throughout Ohio on a wide range of natural history subjects encouraging others’ interests in Ohio Natural History. Jim was a regular participant, leader and co-founder of the Columbus Audubon work projects where members completed various land management and public access projects for the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. Jim also worked with the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks resource management staff to develop park vegetative cover maps, biotic survey database information, advised on resource management projects and even participated in prescribed burns.

Jim, along with his wife Sandy, worked with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to establish Rhododendron Cove Nature Preserve, a 75-acre preserve in southern Fairfield County, protecting one of the largest stands of Great Rhododendron (State Threatened) in Ohio. This additionally led to the establishment of the Ohio Natural Areas and Scenic Rivers Endowment Fund at the Columbus Foundation, which will provide future funding opportunities to promote preservation of Ohio’s finest natural areas.

Jim and Sandy also worked with the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks to establish The Davidson Butterfly Preserve by donating their 20-acre preserve in Delaware County, he called “The Swamp” to the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks for the preservation and management of wetland butterflies. This was the first known preserve in the United States dedication to butterfly protection (American Butterflies Volume 9: Number 3, pp 32-35. Fall 2001).

Jim has held numerous Officer and Board positions including President, more than once, of a number of local conservation organizations in central Ohio. Those organizations included The Columbus Audubon Society (including Eco Weekend), The Columbus Natural History Society, The Wheaton Club, The Ohio Lepidopterists Society and The Central Ohio Native Plant Society.

Jim received the following awards of recognition:

Columbus Audubon Society’s Great Egret Award (2008) which recognizes and honors individuals for their lifetime of achievements and contributions to Audubon. This has only been awarded 4 times by the Columbus Audubon Society.

The Wheaton Club Distinguished Service Award (2016) recognizes individuals who, over a period of many years, have given exceptional service to the Club, been active in the education of natural history and steadfastly furthered the cause of conservation. This honor has only been awarded 8 times in the 101 years history of The Wheaton Club.

ODNR Hall of Fame Inductee (2022) awarded for a lifetime of contributions to further the best interests of natural resources, conservation, or preservation.

Preceded in death by his parents, Horace B. Davidson, Sr., M.D. and Evlyn Taylor Davidson; brother John T. Davidson. Survived by his wife of 68 years, Sandra (Rowland) Davidson; sister Sally (Jack) Hutslar; brother Joseph W. (Patricia) Davidson; daughters Debra Lane and Cheryl (John) Alexander; grandchildren Trevor Huber, Brenna Eagle and Samantha Alexander; as well as all of his extended family members and many wonderful friends and fellow naturalists.

Contributions in memory of Jim may be made to Jim and Sandy’s fund at The Columbus Foundation, Care of Director of Donation Services - Fund # 0953, 1234 E Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205-1453.

A time for visiting will occur on Friday, August 7 from 11:00am-12:00pm and a funeral service to follow will be held at Schoedinger Worthington, 6699 N. High St., Worthington, OH beginning at 12pm, followed by an inurnment at Union Cemetery at 1:30pm, followed by a reception back at the funeral home for friends and family to gather.