By Donna Hales
Phoenix Staff Writer
June 28, 2009 10:46 pm
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Dr. Walter Davis loves being a dentist and says at age 64 he has no desire to retire.
“I enjoy what I do, so I’ll work as long as I can,” he said. “Three divorces and paying alimony — I definitely will be working for some time.”
He chuckled, as he often does.
His schedule — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and very early on Friday until 1 p.m.
He has two grown sons and a 12-year-old son he shares custody of.
There are no dentists or would-be dentists among the sons. He’s never pushed for that or any other particular career.
“I want them to be happy with what they do and have respect for their job and enjoy it enough to work hard at it — set some goals,” he said.
“Ethan (his 12-year-old) is the treasure of my life. My two other sons are treasures, and they like him (Ethan Edward) pretty much. They’re good brothers.”
Davis said he’s trying to turn Ethan into a scholar. He’s a big kid and a natural athlete. He broke his arm earlier this summer going into third base.
Davis named him after a role John Wayne, his hero, played in “The Searchers” — Ethan Edwards.
A John Wayne room in his dentist office is filled with pictures of Wayne. He once had Wayne pictures on the wall of the staircase going to the second floor of his home.
“But my second wife was against that one,” he said.
“John Wayne raised me — he didn’t know it, but he raised me. He had a confused life, like mine. I gained something from the message in his movies. They had a big effect on me.”
Other rooms in Davis’ office building on South York Street include mementos from countries where he volunteered his services in the past for those who couldn’t afford regular dental care.
He decided several years ago to postpone any such future trips until his youngest son is old enough to go with him.
Davis gives back
through mission work
Tulsa periodontist Ross Waltzer became a friend to Dr. Walter Davis early in Davis’ career through a referral and convinced him to give his time and talent on mission trips.
“I’ve been all over the world with him doing mission work,” Davis said.
Three of the trips were to Haiti with the Baptist Haiti Mission.
“When we landed on a grass field — not an airport — I couldn’t believe it,” Davis said, chuckling at the remembrance. “AIDS wasn’t so much a problem then, but hepatitis was all over, and we had to be very careful working on patients back then.”
They’ve been to the Gaza Strip in the West Bank with Palestinian Physicians for Peace. Equador, Indonesia, Peru and Panama have been on the agenda, along with Mexico three times. He’s been to Israel, but not to volunteer his dental services because Israelis have quality dental care, he said.
“I loved going to Israel and seeing things you learned about in Sunday School.
“I’ve never been to India — but I’d like to go,” he said.
Any future trips into the wild blue yonder will have to wait until his son is older.
Decorating elements
reflect eclectic spirit
An elephant Waltzer brought Davis home from one of Waltzer’s world jaunts is covered in clear and colorful tiny mirrors.
“I have the girls clean each mirror on the elephant,” he said, flashing a grin.
A handmade leather chair and carvings of natives several feet high abound. Flying pigs from Indonesia decorate a ceiling.
He spent more time working than shopping on his mission jaunts but always had time to find something eclectic to bring home from wherever he visited.
And some buys here at home are on display as well.
One of wall treasures was from a local charity auction.
It was a painting of the Americas Cup race in 1964 drawn by LeRoy Neiman on a Martha Vineyard Map, he said. The auctioneer had said it was by Leroy Newman, Davis said.
There had been one bid of $10 — Davis said he immediately bid $85 and knocked out all competitors.
“I had it appraised a couple of years ago and it was worth $1,500,” he said.
Employees praise
Davis as “best boss”
“Do you have enough time (for us to tell you what we think of him as a boss)?” asked dental chair assistant Leslie Mocha-Rhyne.
“He’s very compassionate and conservative. He doesn’t do anything unnecessary in treating his patients, and we respect that.”
“He’s very good to us — just very, very good,” said receptionist Kris Quesenberry. “There’s nothing you could say bad about him.”
Mocha-Rhyne said she appreciates his great sense of humor.
“He’s very patient oriented,” Quesenberry said. “He’s always here for the patients.”
And evidently his patients think so, too. A plaque on his front office wall touts his being chosen as the No. 1 Dentist in Muskogee in 2008.
“He made it in 2003, too,” Quesenberry said.
Volunteering his services in other countries and taking care of his patients’ needs haven’t been his only concerns during his career.
A life member of the Lions Club, he’s proud that the Muskogee Lions Club is a founding member of Lions International. He’s not as active in the organization as he used to be, he said.
Also getting some of his attention through the years — Ducks Unlimited.
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Photos
Dr. Walter Davis examines Abby Johnson.