Joe Davis

Joe Robert Davis left us on Thursday, the 1st of September 2022, to join his Lord. His loving wife, Rickie, was at his side to the end. Joe was a great, good man, who will be missed greatly by many.

Joe was born on the 11th of March 1943, in Texarkana, Arkansas and raised in nearby Ogden. He spent his early years carefully observing his father and mother grow their small country store into a thriving business, eventually leading to a large family farm, managed by his older brother. He learned to negotiate with sellers and buyers, to discern good customers from bad, and to extend charity to those in need. His business interest and acumen were born at an early age, and in later years he regaled his friends with funny tales of business deals at the country store and produce sales negotiated from the back of his truck.

Joe was exceptionally bright, an excellent student. He attended the University of Arkansas, majored in mathematics and accounting, and graduated high in his class of 1965. Upon graduation, Joe was hired by one of the nation’s top accounting firms, Price Waterhouse. Within three years, another of the “Big 8” firms, Arthur Andersen recruited Joe to join that firm. Joe progressed rapidly at Arthur Andersen and was admitted to partnership in 1976. There, in his early thirties, he worked on a first audit of the King Ranch, saving them millions of dollars in royalties. Later, he led many other audits of the firm’s top clients, with his commanding presence and deep, unmistakable voice. All who knew Joe respected him for his high standards, fairness, business judgment, and leadership skills. Many of his friendships at Arthur Andersen have lasted his lifetime. His exceptional business acumen contributed to his success, first at Arthur Andersen and later when building his own nationwide company.

In the 1980’s, Joe left accounting to begin his own business by acquiring printing companies across the nation. In 1985, he founded Consolidated Graphics, Inc. - a “roll up” ultimately including 70 companies. In 1994, Consolidated Graphics became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (CGX). Joe served as its CEO for nearly 30 years, until the company was acquired by R.R. Donnelly in 2013.

Throughout his life, Joe was a dedicated sportsman and conservationist. For 30 years, he was a member of the San Chicago Camp on the Norias Division of the King Ranch. He loved traveling to South Texas with family and friends, reveling in beautiful days afield and starry nights of camaraderie around many a campfire. So too, he traveled with friends to hunt in Africa, Europe and South America. In 2013, Joe was knighted into the International Order of St. Hubertus, a worldwide order of hunters, fishermen and conservationists. Founded in 1695, the Order’s motto is “Honor God by Honoring His Creatures.” Joe rose to the rank of Knight Commander in the Order and is revered by his many brothers in the Order, who will deeply miss him. Joe was also a member of Shikar-Safari Club International, the Coronado Club, the Leash Club of New York City, River Oaks Country Club of Houston, Texas, and the “C” Club of Houston. Joe was dedicated to community service and served in many capacities, including as a Director of the Memorial Hermann Foundation Board and as a Director of the Sam Houston Area Boy Scouts of America Board.

While Joe’s business career was headquartered in Houston, he frequently returned to Ogden to visit family and childhood friends with whom he stayed in close contact to the end of his life. His close and enduring relationships with family and friends were Joe’s highest priority. When his parents were living, Joe frequently returned to them in Ogden. Even after their death, he continued to maintain close relationships with his loved ones and friends in Ogden.

Joe was a true southern gentleman, equally comfortable at a white tie formal event or seated atop a South Texas quail rig – always ready with his big smile, a kind word, or a pithy comment. His friends and family members will always cherish Joe’s ability to connect with everyone. He will be remembered for his steadfast kindness, generosity, commitment to family and his ability to love all people - across generational, geographical or social differences.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, J.B. and Lucille Davis, his older brother, Kenneth Davis, and his nephew, Donald Davis. Joe is survived by his wife and best friend, Rickie P. Davis; his sister, Mary Ann Morrison, and sister-in-law, Linda Davis; his children, Phillip Davis and his wife Anne, Mike Davis and Carrie DeLaRosa; his nieces and nephews, Keith Davis, Jennifer Davis Adams, Brad Davis, Glenn Morrison and Patrick Morrison; his grandchildren, Whitney Davis Lombardy and her husband Nicholas, Lauren Davis, Connor Davis, Cameron Davis, Carson DeLaRosa and Mayson DeLaRosa; and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six until eight o’clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 7th of September, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A funeral service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Thursday, the 8th of September, in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where the Rev. John C. Barksdale, Executive Director Pastoral Ministries, is to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family at a venue to be announced during the service.

At a later date the family will gather for a private interment at Ashdown Cemetery, in Ashdown, Arkansas.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the JB Davis Family Scholarship - Ashdown Alumni Association, 751 Rankin Street, Ashdown, AR 71822.

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