Davis, Henry Pierce - 

Mr. Henry "Punchy" Davis of Starkville, MS died on April 16, 2006. Visitation is 
scheduled for April 19, 2006 from 2-3 P.M. at First United Methodist Church and 
the funeral service will follow @3P.M. Burial will be at Oddfellows Cemetery, 
Starkville, MS. 

Mr. Davis is survived by his wife, Ruby Nash Lewis of Starkville; 
his children, Sandra Thoms(Terry), John Davis(Kelly) and Ginga Carter(Glenn);
his grandchildren, Todd Demuth (Angie),Benjamin Davis(Lauren),Andrew 
Thoms, Julie Anna Thoms, Christina Thoms, David Thoms, Justin Carter,
Melissa Carter; and great-grandchildren, Whitney Allen and Avery Demuth. 

After winning the Golden Gloves International Boxing Team Championship in 
1937, he was awarded an athletic scholarship for boxing at Mississippi State
 University. He was a member of Kappa Sigma, won the SEC Boxing 
Championship, tenor soloist for the MSU Glee Club,a member of the 
M Club, the Bulldog Club and was elected to the MSU Sports Hall of Fame. 

Mr. Davis was an officer in the U.S.Army Air Corp serving 27 years. 
A World War II veteran, Punchy completed 25 combat missions as a 
bombardier and gunnery officer in North Africa, Corsica, and the 
Brenner Pass of Italy. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Air 
Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Commendation Medal. 
After serving in the Philippine Islands as Wing Director of Training 
and Squadron Commander, in 1954 he returned to Keesler AFB 
serving as Commandant of Troops, and later became Chief of 
Professional Schools Division, Air University at the Air Command 
and Staff College in Montgomery, Alabama.

He was later assigned to HQ USAFE in Wiesbaden, Germany from 
1963-1966. Punchy retired from active duty as a Lt. Colonel, after 
serving at NORAD in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1968. He was 
active in community affairs and was Starkville's longest standing 
mayor serving three terms from 1973-1985. He was president of the 
North Mississippi Industrial Association, member of Rotary 
International, a Paul Harris Fellow, and on the board of Stewarts 
at the First United Methodist Church. 

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church 
Music Ministry, 200 West Lampkin Street, Starkville,MS 39759. 

Transcribed by C. L. Herrick on June 22, 2008