Rodney "Rod" Davidson

Rodney "Rod" Gene Davidson was born on December 5, 1955 in Shattuck, Oklahoma to John Francis and Ida Marie Davidson, the youngest of their five children. Rod spent the first three years of his life on a farm in the panhandle of Oklahoma until John and Ida moved their family to Enid, Oklahoma.

Rod showed early on a love for celebrations and creative gift-giving. When he was about three years old, he was delighted at the approach of Christmas. His family began to notice that things were disappearing around the house - a tube of lipstick, a high-heeled shoe, a glove, a Mr Goodyear bar, a toy truck, a tea set saucer, a spatula, a screw driver. Rodney stashed these things away and soon mysterious packages began to appear under the Christmas tree as he gleefully wrapped each gift. Rod continued this habit of creative giftgiving throughout his life.

Rod was very motivated academically, graduating valedictorian from Enid High School in 1974 and Phi Beta Kappa from University of Oklahoma honors program. While completing his university studies, Rod worked part-time as switchman/switch foreman for Rock Island Railroad out of Enid.

Rod, fresh with his OU chemistry degree, traded up to work as brakeman/conductor for Burlington Northern (BN) out of Gillette, Wyoming where he continued to work for the next 13 years.

One of Rod's major accomplishments was an independent project he was involved in while employed by Burlington Northern. Compiling information and doing his own research, Rod presented his study to a "Quality Improvement Committee". Through his efforts, Rod was able to help improve the working conditions for himself and fellow employees, while at the same time, reducing the railroads operating costs.

This railroad lifestyle suited him: he was a free spirit and loved the wide-open country of the Western US. However, Rod's life was forever changed when he suffered a traumatic brain injury in a train collision on June 19, 1991.

Rod returned to Oklahoma to recover from his extensive injuries, staying with his sister, Mary, in Oklahoma City. When it became obvious that Rod disabilities would prevent him from returning to work for the railroad, Rod enrolled in computer programming courses at Oklahoma Goodwill Industries in 1994.

In April 1995, he began full employment with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) as a Programmer/Analyst I. Rod continued to work for DHS until retiring in 2014.

Rod became an expert with the Americans with Disabilities Act and continued to fight for those with disabilities through his work and the organizations he supported. Rod served as a board member Brain Injury Association of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2024. In 2000, Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating appointed Rod to a three-year term as a board member of the Oklahoma Rehabilitation Council. Rod also served on the Oklahoma Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Advisory Council from 2004 to 2014.

Rod and his sister, Mary, were active in the Military Park Residents Association, as a way of investing back into their community. Rod served as a board member of the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma in 2005.

Rod was proud of his work as a registered parliamentarian and for the work that he and his sister, Mary, did through the Sooner Unit. They organized many workshops, presentations, as well as participated in conventions and served as officers or committee members at local and state levels. From 2008 to 2010, Rod served as president of the Oklahoma State Association of Parliamentarians.

Rod's motto was "Knowledge is Power", and he lived this through devoting his time and efforts to building, maintaining and writing websites and newsletters for the various not-for-profit organizations he was involved with.

Rod was preceded in death his father, John Francis Davidson (1984); his mother, Ida Marie Davidson (1999); and, his sister, Mary Elizabeth Davidson (2024). Rod is survived by his husband, George Huebsch; three siblings - Roberta Smith, Claire Davidson and Byron Davidson; as well as 10 nieces and nephews.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Rodney "Rod" Davidson will be held at 10am, Monday, June 23 at the Smith & Kernke, 14624 North May, Oklahoma City 73134.

In lieu of flowers, the family of Rod Davidson requests donations to the Brain Injury Association of Oklahoma, Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma and the education fund of the Oklahoma State Association of Parliamentarians.