[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 5 (Thursday, January 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E31]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING LEVELLE GUINN DAVIS AS HE CELEBRATES HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY

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                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 9, 2014

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Levelle Guinn 
Davis, who celebrated his 100th birthday on January 3, 2014.
  Mr. Levelle Guinn Davis was born in Corralitos, Santa Cruz County, 
California to Jay Ammon and Mel Agusta (Guinn) Davis. He was the 2nd of 
6 children. Levelle's father was a native of Plymouth, California in 
Amador County. Levelle was raised in several areas: preschool in San 
Jose, early school years in Gilroy, grade school years from Crows 
Landing and Mountain View Road then Faith Home Elementary in Ceres 
where Walter White was the Principal. As a junior at Modesto High 
School, he decided to go to work full time against the advice of his 
counselor, Grace M. Davis. He became friends with the pioneer Hackett 
family boys and in 1935, married their little sister, Ruth Etta Hackett 
in the Bethel Church at 15th and G Streets, Modesto, California.
  Levelle and Ruth started their family and had two sons, Leonard Aaron 
and Daniel Arlen while employed at the Spreckels sugar mill near 
Salinas, California. He was a drive belt maintenance specialist and 
moved to Tuolumne County in 1943 to be closer to his parents and 
siblings. In 1952, the family moved to Stockton to allow Lenard and 
Daniel better education opportunities. Both sons attended Stockton 
Junior College and served in the California Army National Guard in 
Stockton.
  After their sons were married, Levelle and Ruth moved back to Modesto 
in 1965 to be near the families of his sister and Ruth's brothers.
  Mr. Davis retired after 10 years as a tomato paste cook with the Tri 
Valley Growers Cannery. Between seasons, he would drive eight row corn 
combine harvesters; he was a member of the Local #12 Teamsters Cannery 
Workers Union.
  He enjoyed having a large garden with a variety of fruit trees. Ruth 
canned and froze everything that they grew.
  Mr. Davis was a member of the Calvary Temple Church when Pastor Joe 
Wright was serving there. During that time, he would lead a large group 
of Senior RVers to numerous camp outings to places like Frank Rains 
Park in Del Puerto Canyon and Oakdale Reservoir. He enjoys all kinds of 
table games with friends at Modesto Verde.
  Mr. Levelle Guinn Davis has enjoyed traveling to all 50 states, 
including Hawaii and several trips to Alaska. He has a clock and watch 
collection as well as ``button'' accordions, harmonicas and has enjoyed 
various types of photography: 8mm movies, VHS videos, Sawyers 3-D and 
35mm slides to name a few.
  Levelle and Ruth were married 70 years and have three grandchildren; 
Laura Giovanetti, Danial Aaron Davis and Renee Crabtree and seven 
great-grand children: Nick, Alex, Heidi, Kaitlyn, Mitchell, Ashley and 
Jake.
  Levelle has been blessed with good health: he reads without glasses, 
drinks pure water, takes health supplements and has never consumed 
alcohol nor smoked cigarettes. He has always been health conscience and 
wanted to set a good example for his sons. He takes a walk to the 
clubhouse several days a week and exercises on the trampoline. He even 
wins at dominoes and other games he plays regularly.
  Mr. Davis is a current member of the Modesto Parlor Number 11 of the 
Native Sons of the Golden West. He still has a good sense of humor and 
likes to tell jokes. He tells everyone that, like the California 
Governor, he also has a Highway Patrolman as his driver; his oldest son 
Leonard, who is a retired CHP pilot.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating Mr. Levelle Guinn Davis as 
he celebrates his 100th birthday.

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