Merced civil rights leader Denard Davis dies

Denard Davis, a community advocate, educator, mentor and civil rights leader for multiple generations of men of color in Merced, has died, friends and family confirmed Monday.

Davis, who was widely known as “Mr. D,” was 81.

Originally from New Orleans, Davis settled in Merced decades ago, according to his son-in-law, Tori Eva. He died on Sept. 8, according to Eva, of undetermined causes.

Davis was a Tenaya Junior High teacher who went on to be an assistant superintendent of the Merced County Office of Education. He also was integral in the local civil rights movement, said Napoleon Washington Jr., a Merced insurance agent who was mentored by Davis. “He was always trying to reach down and lift somebody else up,” Washingston said.

Born on May 15, 1934, Davis left New Orleans to attend Texas College in Tyler, Texas. He also served two years as a Marine in the 1950s.

He began substitute teaching in San Francisco, before being offered a full-time teaching job by Merced City School District. His first apartment in Merced was a rental on 12th Street that accepted minorities, according to his family , as the city was still segregated at the time.

Davis eventually moved up to an administrative position with the Merced County Office of Education. While there, he established the Neighborhood Youth Corp, a program that found part-time work for young people.

Washington said it was through that program that he did janitorial work at what now are the offices of the Merced County Office of Education. “This was back in the ‘60s, when there were very few jobs for youth, and especially youth of color,” Washington said. “Mr. D was instrumental in that.”

Washington said Davis was a teacher, coach and mentor for him at Tenaya Junior High in the early 1960s. The school is now called Tenaya Middle School.

Davis was a member of a number of city commissions and nonprofit organizations, including an investment group that worked to refurbish south Merced homes.

In the 1980s, he was a DJ for KLBS Radio, a station based in Los Banos. Tony Slaton, executive director of the Boy & Girls Club of Merced County, said he has fond memories of Davis’ show, “Mr. D’s Soul Train.”

Slaton said he was in high school about the same time as Davis’ daughters. It wasn’t until later in life he learned of Davis’ accomplishments as a community leader. “I think he was a pillar in the community for many people,” he said. “He’ll be sorely missed.”

Davis eventually took on the role of assistant superintendent of human resources and the affirmative action officer for the county office before retiring in 1996.

Even at 81, Davis continued to be involved in the city’s operations. Slaton said Davis met with him recently about Merced’s move to establish voting districts for local elections.

Darryl Davis, president of the Merced chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said “Mr. D” continued to mentor young men even after his retirement from education. The two Davises are not related.

“His mentorship, his support and the love he had for this community will be greatly missed,” Davis said.

Since 2005, Davis served on the UC Merced board that annually awarded the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance.

The work Davis did also reached outside the borders of the city. He was involved in the refurbishment of the George Washington Carver Community Center, a South Dos Palos building that underwent a facelift in 2010.

Davis also founded groups like the Black Businessman of Merced County, Black Educators of Merced County and Concerned Men Cook, a yearly cook-off that raised money for college scholarships.

Davis is survived by wife, Yvonne, and daughters Donna and Dorma.

An hour-long visitation service for Davis will be held at noon on Saturday at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, 1490 B St. The funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. Saturday at Apostolic Tabernacle, 2745 E. State Highway 140.

This story was originally published September 14, 2015 at 11:59 AM with the headline "Merced civil rights leader Denard Davis dies."