Sidney Hamilton Davis Jr.'s Obituary
Davis, Jr., Sidney Hamilton On October 26, 2009, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend Sid Davis, Jr. was released into the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ by his heartbroken family and friends. Otherwise in robust health, he was struck down by swine flu pneumonia. Sid was born on December 18, 1954, and graduated from W. T. White High School. After he graduated magna cum laude from Texas Tech University and magna cum laude and member of the Order of the Coif from The University of Texas at Austin Law School, he came home to Dallas, where his college sweetheart Linda was waiting; they married on June 28, 1980. Their three children were the joys of their life together. Best described by the care he took of his family, his faith, his incomparable sense of humor, his beautiful voice and love of music, golf and baseball, his giant brain, his loyalty to his friends, and his excellence in the practice of law, he was the managing partner at Touchstone Bernays Law Firm, where he worked for 30 years. He was a member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, the International Association of Defense Counsel, a seven time Texas Super Lawyer and recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and The Best Lawyers in Texas. Sid was a church elder and was named Elder Emeritus by the Session of Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas. He also served as president of the HPPC Day School Board, member of the Presbyterian Village North board, and president of the Chancel Choir of HPPC. He was active in the Alzheimer’s Association. He is survived by his wife, beloved children Kitty, Robin, and Timothy, sisters Lynn and Jenny, Jenny’s husband Mike, sisters- and brother-in-law Marian, Gail, and Cliff and Cliff’s wife Tommie Lee, nieces and nephew Courtney, Shannon, Jackie, Sarah, Savannah, Daniel, and Lindsay, and treasured aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, colleagues, and clients. His family deeply appreciates the doctors, nurses, and profusionists at Presbyterian Hospital Dallas who heroically tried to save his life. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 30, 2009, in the Highland Park Presbyterian Church Main Sanctuary, 3821 University Blvd., Dallas, 75205, where Sid was a lifelong member. The Rev. Dr. Marshall Zieman, the Rev. Dr. Ron Scates, the Rev. Russell Jonas, and Dr. George Gregory Hobbs will officiate. Memorials to the Highland Park Presbyterian Church music ministry or the Alzheimer’s Association would be gratefully welcomed. “A tall tree has fallen.” – – – Sidney Hamilton Davis Jr.: Lawyer who advised Dallas County commissioners in constable case By JOE SIMNACHER / The Dallas Morning News Sidney Hamilton Davis Jr. seemed to excel whether he was defending a lawsuit before the Texas Supreme Court or singing with the choir at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. Until recently, he was best-known in legal circles as managing partner of the Dallas law firm Touchstone Bernays. A defense attorney specializing in insurance litigation, he had argued cases before the Texas high court and the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. On Sept. 29, his name became more recognizable when Dallas County commissioners hired Mr. Davis to advise them on their investigation into the practices of two constables. On Oct. 9, Mr. Davis – who rarely if ever missed work for illness – didn’t feel well. Three days later, he saw his doctor, and he was hospitalized soon after, on Oct. 15. Mr. Davis, 54, died Monday of complications of pneumonia caused by the H1N1 influenza at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. A memorial will be at 11 a.m. today at Highland Park Presbyterian Church. His ashes will be placed in the church’s columbarium. “From the standpoint of an attorney, I think Sid was the smartest guy I had ever met,” said Ron Johnson and friend and colleague of 30 years. “He had a real knack of being able to isolate an issue and then just logically work through it.” A Dallas native and graduate of W.T. White High School, Mr. Davis demonstrated his academic prowess as an undergraduate at Texas Tech University and as a law student at the University of Texas at Austin. He graduated magna cum laude from both institutions and was a member of the Order of the Coif in law school. In 1979, he joined Touchstone Bernays, where he would work for the next 30 years. “Sid was a very smart guy, willing to analyze and work through things,” Mr. Johnson said. “Because of that, he was highly successful as an attorney.” Mr. Davis had been selected seven times as a Texas Super Lawyer and was recognized on both the Best Lawyers in America and the Best Lawyers in Texas lists. The intelligent and serious Mr. Davis also had a fun-loving side. “Sid was a funny guy; he enjoyed a good joke, he enjoyed a good practical joke on people,” Mr. Johnson said. Mr. Davis recently wrote skits for and was master of ceremonies at a roast of Highland Park Presbyterian Church’s senior minister for a choir fundraiser. “He probably had more fun doing that roast than anything he’d done in the last 10 years,” Mr. Johnson said. “If Sid hadn’t been a lawyer, I think he might rather be a stand-up comedian. He had an element of ham in him. He loved to perform.” Mr. Davis, a baritone, “was a phenomenal musician,” said Gregg Hobbs, the church’s music director. “He had absolute pitch, which is very rare,” Dr. Hobbs said. “If you said, ‘Sid, sing a D,’ he would sing a D.” Mr. Davis was also a very good piano player who had been a member of the adult choir for 30 years and had grown up singing in the church’s children’s choir program. “He had been a leading singer in our sacred music program since childhood,” Dr. Hobbs said. Mr. Davis sang with the church’s Chancel Choir and a smaller, select group at the church. He was on the board of Presbyterian Village North. Mr. Davis’ activities included serving as Highland Park Presbyterian Church elder and as president of the church’s Day School board. Mark Smith, another longtime colleague, added that Mr. Davis was an avid golfer. “He’d never forgive us if we didn’t tell you he was a very good golfer,” Mr. Smith said. The suddenness of his death added to the shock for friends and colleagues. “Sid was a very healthy guy,” said Mr. Johnson, who could not remember Mr. Davis missing a day of work for illness in the 30 years they worked together. “This was just something that his system could not fight,” Mr. Johnson said. Mr. Davis is survived by his wife, Linda Davis of Dallas; two daughters, Kitty Davis, a Richardson junior high choir director, and Robin Davis, a University of Missouri junior; a son, Timothy Davis of Dallas; and two sisters, Lynn Davis of Dallas and Jenny Moore of Houston. Memorials may be made to the music ministry at Highland Park Presbyterian Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.
What’s your fondest memory of Sidney?
What’s a lesson you learned from Sidney?
Share a story where Sidney's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Sidney you’ll never forget.
How did Sidney make you smile?