Students in need have his ear

It's Doug Davis' job to keep the everyday machines at an Omaha elementary school in good order.

But Davis makes it his mission to keep many young minds at the school on track, too.

As the engineer at Minne Lusa Elementary, 2728 Ida St., Davis is responsible for the school's upkeep and other daily functions. He strives, though, to be a positive influence on students from the north Omaha school who need guidance or someone to share their troubles with.

Children from all backgrounds, he said, often pattern their behavior from a negative environment. And it's easy for some students to lose control, as well as lose sight of what's right and what's wrong.

He finds it rewarding to mentor young minds and gently move a child in the right direction. Patience and understanding are often needed to reach a child, he said. Kids learn from what they hear and see.

So the straightforward, venerable man who was raised on an Arkansas farm where discipline was paramount often sits and visits with children in order to understand their troubles, discuss solutions and deliver advice.

He recognizes that struggles at home or elsewhere can lead to bad behavior. And he understands frustration and how that can lead to poor choices at school.

“Explain to me exactly what is going on,” Davis tells students, “and I can give you some pointers on how to solve this problem.”

In 1958, Davis was three years out of high school and in Omaha in search of work. He wanted something other than the daily life of working on his family's small acreage in tiny Ashdown, Ark., growing corn and other crops.

The job search in the bigger city included setbacks. A chance with the Fire Department fell through. A stint in construction didn't pan out. The letdowns grew, one rejection after another.

He had thoughts of giving up until he found steady work processing cattle, a career he had for a number of years at former Omaha packing plants.

After that industry left town, Davis discovered a new career with the Omaha Public Schools. This year is his 15th with the district and his third at Minne Lusa.

In addition to working with students, Davis likes to sing with his gospel group, Echoes of Melody. The eight-member group has performed at churches in the Omaha area and the Midwest for nearly 50 years.

He also enjoys fixing small machines, restoring his north Omaha home and spending time with Margaret, his wife of 48 years.

And he intends to keep lending his time to children in search of guidance at Minne Lusa. He'll continue to offer simple advice for difficult problems.

“You don't have to be a clown to be noticed,” Davis said. “Most of the time, the quiet guy gets more attention in the long run.”

Contact the writer:

444-3198, chip.olsen@owh.com

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