Joe Davis: Selfless advocate in the work of the Du Quoin chamber, huge inner strength

Whether Joe Davis and son Rick at Southern Illinois Movers are working with Scott Air Force Base through eMails and Smart Phones to move a military family half-way around the world or raising the money to sustain the work of the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce it's all "real work" that "somebody's got to do."

Davis, 79, is all about sustainability of Du Quoin, its business community and its tourism with an unimaginable inner strength in the face of personal loss.

On Wednesday, the chamber and Joe's family and friends will pause at the annual chamber banquet at the Du Quoin Elks Club to tell him "what you have done for this community for so many years matters to all of us."

The award is the highest recognition bestowed by the chamber and--before that, the Du Quoin Business Association --to recognize the substantial contributions of the men and women who shoulder the work our community.

In recent years the chamber board of directors has gotten it right by honoring people like Allen Martin, Sam Macaluso, Doris Rottschalk Jim Dimitroff, Jess Coffel and Bill Hamburger and most recently Bill Asbury for his selfless work with the Special Olympics.

If you have not made reservations, do so quickly, to be part of a very special night to celebrate both business and community service.

The soft-spoken Davis last week talked not-so-much about himself, but about his family and about the past recipients. "We have to recognize people who make this town run," he said, pointing to the great names in the award's past.

He talked about family, his late wife Donna and his three children and four stepchildren. His children are daughter Jo Ann Lohr of Carbondale and Rick Davis of Du Quoin, who now owns and operates (since 2000) Southern Illinois Movers. He has four stepchildren: Shawn Stanley, Rhonda Heatherly, David Stanley and Christopher Stanley.

Tragically, Joe lost son Steve to a car accident at Bates Campgrounds in 1980 and wife Donna in June 2007 when their Suburban was struck headon by an impaired driver along Rt. 51 near the Big Muddy Bridge.

The couple was headed home to Du Quoin after a night of shopping and dinner in Marion. Donna rode in the passenger seat beside her husband.

The words of Donna's son, Shawn Stanley, were profound as driver Julie Comte was sentenced to seven years in prison: ""There are no winners here," said Shawn. "We all just lost. I've lost my mom, and they've lost her (Comte) for seven years."

This short history isn't about sharing a tragedy, but rather mirrors the inner strength of the great man the chamber is honoring.

Longtime friend and honoree Dixie Travelstead nominated Joe in this letter:

"When I first met Joe Davis over 35 years ago, I quickly became intrigued by his humor, his interest in people and his sincere desire to make a difference. Without exception, Joe always seemed to be offering a helping hand, whether it was to help a friend or a community service project.

"Joe has been in business in Du Quoin since 1969, when he purchased the Siefert Brothers Moving and Storage, which he renamed Southern Illinois Moving and Storage. Since that time, Joe has helped relocate many families near and far, in Du Quoin and across the country. He has helped move virtually every business in town when they relocated, all the while providing jobs for many people through the years. But most of all, he has provided the assurance to families that their personal treasures would be treated with tender care and businesses could count on utmost professionalism.

"Joe has been a member of the Du Quoin Business Association, now the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce, since 1975. During this time he was actively involved and held several offices, including president, which helped lay the groundwork for many strategic projects, to promote the business community. He also volunteered for numerous committees over the years, and worked behind the scenes with their many projects. But perhaps the one responsibility that has affected virtually every citizen in Du Quoin has been his 12-year tenure as co-chair and chair of the annual Fourth of July Freedom Fest. His leadership and devotion to this cause has brought so much enjoyment for families and friends as we celebrated this special holiday in Du Quoin.

"Joe has belonged to the Rotary Club for many years, holding many positions, including president. Even though the Rotary Club (now the Volunteer Foundation) meets every week, Joe rarely misses a meeting. He has been active in helping with several annual events including the pancake breakfast, golf tournament fundraiser, awards banquet for the middle school children and the rose sale during the holidays.

"Joe has also been a member of the Du Quoin Elks Lodge for 30 years and participates in many of their yearly events to raise money for their charitable work. He regularly supports the Elks with their various weekly and monthly events and often invites others to join him.

"As a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, Joe can be seen every Sunday in his favorite spot. Sometimes he is alone, sometimes with children or grandkids, sometimes with friends he has invited…but always with a twinkle in his eye, a warm and inviting smile and a sincere concern for others.

"I think the most endearing qualities about Joe are his humility and unassuming demeanor. He quietly supports virtually every organization in Southern Illinois by attending their events or donating financially. He has been a staunch advocate for the Du Quoin Youth Club, even though he has no personal ties or kids at the club. Joe has attended and sponsored the annual Charity Ball for over 20 years, inviting many guests who otherwise would not have been able to attend. Additionally, he has been a gold sponsor for many years, helping pave the way for a profitable event to fund the Du Quoin Youth Club."

Growing Up in Du Quoin

It has nothing to do with the chamber dinner, but you are spellbound listening to Joe talk about growing up in Du Quoin and the town's oft-times wild and romantic past. In earlier days spent at Koerner's Pool Hall he knew the town's gambling and eight ball legends, Louis Reid, "Red" Greer and, of course, Minnesota Fats--a blend of big hearts and heartlessness at the same time. Those were the days.

Now, he says, "I have more years behind me than I have in front of me" but his work and certainly his giving continue.

Moving the Nation's Military

Housed in what for years was the late Mayor Robert Armstrong's Du Quoin Machine Works complex on North Chestnut Street, Southern Illinois Movers is affiliated with National Van Lines. A handshake agreement with the Siefert trucking family allowed Joe to buy the business in 1969, formalized in1971.

The business has changed over the years but it is very interesting that working with the military, Rick and Joe Davis are responsible for moving many of the military families in and out of Scott Air Force Base in Mascoutah, Ill. Unlike in the past, the instructions come not from Scott AFB, but from a military personnel relocation office at Hanscom AFB near Chelmsford, Mass.

"We move military to anywhere in the world. We can store their belongings here in our warehouse or we use secured lift vans and shipping vaults that are placed on ships," he said.

The precious cargo that represents the lives of our military are trafficked using emails and Smart Phones these days.

But, like Joe's commitment to making sure the chamber's concessions equipment and people were in place, the Freedom Festival was accomplished, and the Holiday Lights Fair displays were properly transported and stored, he makes sure our military families--and the families in our own neighborhoods--are properly moved.

He forewarns those attending the dinner, "I don't know that I will have a lot to say."

Being that selfless says it all.