Ann Davis
" Chadbourne "

ANN DAVIS is the busiest member of the Class of '53. She is the school's representative for the "Bangor Commercial" and does a real professional job of reporting. We would never realize what a stupendous affair the dance or party was until we read Ann's column on it the following Friday. The Dairy Maid from Veazie is going places - one of which is to the University of Maine. Of all the graduates, she gives the most promise of becoming a pro. Good luck Ann.

After graduation, I continued working as a reporter for "The Bangor Daily News" throughout college.

At The University of Maine I was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi and graduated with high honors in English and
History.

While cheerleading at a Homecoming bonfire, I met my college sweetheart Jim, a ski racer from Vermont. We were married Valentine's weekend in 1958.

Our daughter, Katherine Ann, died shortly after birth, a victim of the German measles epidemic that year.

Our son, who is an almost exact replica of my wonderful father, is the joy of our lives. We are hoping to be grandparents soon.

After graduation I taught English and coached the state championship debate team at Bangor High.

I dearly loved Bangor, but Jim was called into the Army as a second lieutenant, and from then on my life became a modern version of "Whither Thou Goest, " and believe me, there were plenty of whithers while he climbed the career ladder.

After AG School in Indiana, we returned to teaching in Vermont, then received our M.A. degrees from the University
of Vermont. Since university employees at the managerial level were granted free tuition, I was fortunate that the position of publications editor was open. I also produced educational television programs and won the national university competition for daily public information radio programs.

Jim went into college teaching, then to UCLA for a doctorate in college administration. During that time I served as a special assistant to the head of the graduate program at UCLA. My job was evaluating the written projects of all candidates for teaching credentials in English at the junior college level.

Then began what I refer to as our "high class Grapes of Wrath period, " as Jim moved up through the administrative ranks. During those years, I devoted my energies to being PTA president, establishing a school library and training volunteer staff to run it, organizing and training volunteers for a free school tutoring program, coaching soccer, and fund raising for several charities.

I had to beg my son not to volunteer me for every job that needed doing, but when no one else would volunteer, he would raise his hand and say, "Don't worry, my mother will do it!"
Finally my husband begged me to go back to work so I would have some free time!

I returned to teaching at the college level and was elected president of the Faculty Women's Club at my college.

Jim's promotion to president of a community college in suburban Seattle effectively ended my teaching career. He was on the board of directors of the Rotary Club and the hospital, and we were active supporters of the symphony and opera, as well as many worthy charities.

I earned my Graduate Realtor Institute designation and completed the brokers' courses and eventually wound up the top selling Realtor in the county. I specialized in waterfront homes and country estates and loved the business, which surprisingly wasn't all that different from teaching.

In 1987 Jim was named Vice President of a major charitable institution in Los Angeles, with several campuses throughout Southern California.

It has been a joy to be back in the land of perpetual sunshine.

We are restoring an older home with beautiful gardens, and after a busy and rewarding life, enjoying retirement and foreign travel.

We've come a long way from Bangor, but Bangor will live in my heart forever.