Harold O. "Hal" Davis, a retired vice president and treasurer of The Blade and its parent company, Block Communications Inc., died Aug. 30 at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg Township. He was 95.
He died in his sleep after his health took a downturn following a surgery, his daughter, SueAnn Hutchinson, said.
Mr. Davis retired Dec. 31, 1990, as vice president-administration and treasurer of The Blade and BCI after 27 years with The Blade.
He was a “very good listener,” which helped him solve issues at work, recalled David Huey, a retired BCI president.
“He had a calm personality, and he could recognize difficult situations and work through them with other people. He had that capability, especially with his financial background,” Mr. Huey said, noting that Mr. Davis was instrumental in helping the company “with a large number of acquisitions and getting into different enterprises.”
Mr. Davis, who played a role in the Toledo Blade Co.’s acquisition of 10 companies and in the formation of BCI, joined the newspaper in 1963 as assistant controller. He was promoted to director of finance in 1969 and to his latest posts in 1984, following his graduation from the Harvard Business School for Executives.
As chief financial officer of BCI, Mr. Davis was involved in the financial operations of its 15 properties.
“They are all good companies, all have good people, all have either good performance successes or problems,” he told The Blade at the time he retired. “All contributed to my day-to-day excitement.”
Before joining The Blade, Mr. Davis, who held a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bowling Green State University and was a certified public accountant, was audit supervisor at Ernst & Ernst, a CPA firm, where he was hired in 1956.
Chuck Conner, retired Blade manager of advertising services, said, “Hal was probably one of the nicest and smartest guys I’ve ever worked with.”
“He was a gentleman, peaceful, patient, and kind, ... but he was firm in his business dealings,” Mr. Davis’ son, William Davis, said.
Of his years at The Blade, Mr. Davis said at the time of his retirement, “There has never been a dull moment. The owners have always kept me on my toes, and I have really enjoyed working with the people.”
Mr. Davis was well-liked by his Blade colleagues, the evidence of which sometimes spilled into print, those who knew him said.
On July 18, 1967, for example, The Blade published a two-sentence story about his golf game. The story ran under the title Long Drive.
“Hal Davis, assistant treasurer of The Blade, made golf history Sunday with the longest drive ever recorded at the ancient Valleywood Golf Club,” the story said. “At the second tee, Hal’s drive hooked badly onto Airport Highway and into the back of a Chicago-bound open truck.”
His professional memberships included Institute of Newspaper Controllers and Finance Officers, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants, Financial Executive Institute, and the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Over the years, Mr. Davis had served on the board of directors of North Coast Health Systems, the Bowling Green State University Foundation, and Riverside Hospital, where he was a past chairman of the planning committee.
Born May 15, 1929, in Ford City, Pa., to Jessie and William Davis, he was raised in Doylestown, Ohio, graduating in 1947 from the former Doylestown High School.
He then served four years with the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command from 1948 until his honorable discharge in 1952 with the rank of first sergeant. His years of service flying B-29 bombers included two years during the Korean War when he flew bombing missions in Korea as a gunner.
His military service decorations included the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Medal.
After returning from the war, Mr. Davis used the GI Bill to attend BGSU, graduating in 1956.
A year before he graduated, he married the former Barbra Younkin in 1955. They raised two children together and later enjoyed traveling in the United States and Europe in retirement. She died in 2009.
“My dad was the most ethical man I’ve ever met. He was completely honest, he was trustworthy, he never got mad, he was fair with everybody, and he had a lot of friends,” Mrs. Hutchinson said, noting that she was a single mother and that her father “stepped in” and helped raise her children.
“As a grandparent, he was basically a parent to my kids, a dad. ... And that really had a major positive effect on my kids,” she said, adding that Mr. Davis had inspired his grandson, Tyler Davis, to join the Marine Corps.
Mr. Davis was a member of Zion Methodist Church, where he was a past treasurer, and most recently attended Church of St. Andrew United Methodist.
His other memberships included Toledo Rotary Club, Toledo Power Squadron, and Indian Hill Boat Club, where he was a past commodore.
Surviving are his son, William Davis; daughter, SueAnn Hutchinson; and two grandchildren.
Visitation and funeral services were held Wednesday at Church of St. Andrew United Methodist. Arrangements were by Coyle Funeral Home.
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