HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5166 Offered September 27, 2006 Commending the Davis family and the Davis & Sons Truck Terminal on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. ----------
Patrons-- Tyler, Abbitt, Alexander, BaCote, Barlow, Bowling, Brink, Bulova, Byron, Callahan, Caputo, Crockett-Stark, Dance, Dudley, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Englin, Hall, Hargrove, Howell, A.T., Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Kilgore, Lewis, McEachin, Miller, Moran, Nixon, Nutter, Phillips, Poisson, Scott, J.M., Shuler, Spruill, Suit, Toscano, Valentine, Waddell, Ward, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts and Wittman
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WHEREAS, the Davis & Sons Truck Terminal, owned over the years by three generations of the Davis family, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2006; and

WHEREAS, in 1956 the Davis & Sons Truck Terminal was established in Sussex by Irvin T. Davis, Sr., and his wife, Edith M. Davis, at the intersection, which became known as Davis' Corner, located at State Route 602 and what is now Interstate 95; and

WHEREAS, the Davis' original business opened its doors to Sussex citizens and travelers in Virginia, providing automotive services and offering home-cooked meals in a 50-seat restaurant; and

WHEREAS, for the next decade, Irvin and Edith Davis owned, as well as worked at, the Davis & Sons Truck Terminal, employing about 15 people and operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and

WHEREAS, in 1966 the facilities were leased to Lawrence Coleman, a truck stop operator, and Pete Tudor, a restaurateur, but the name Davis & Sons Truck Terminal remained, as did the dependable service and standards of business associated with the Davis name; and

WHEREAS, by 1977 the businesses had grown to 45 employees and had transferred to second generation owners, Melvin Davis, Sr., and Dorothy Davis, who renovated the site to include a 120-seat restaurant and a travel plaza with 14 fuel pumps; and

WHEREAS, Exxon became the first gas brand to be sold at the truck terminal in 1980, followed by Shell Oil in 1986, and the family-style restaurant became a Denny’s franchise in 1990 with a Burger King franchise added in 1991; and

WHEREAS, the grandchildren, Melvin L. Davis, Jr., Kay Marie Davis, and Joel Rex Davis, carried on the Davis entrepreneurial tradition in 1997 when Melvin Sr. and Dorothy retired; and

WHEREAS, in 2004 Davis' Corner was completely altered when land was acquired and a super facility, the Davis Travel Center, was constructed, which features Exxon, Starbucks, and Subway and employs over 160 Virginians, who continue to carry on the Davis family tradition; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate the Davis family and the Davis & Sons Truck Terminal, now the Davis Travel Center, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the members of the Davis family as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for their outstanding service to the Commonwealth and its citizens.