Roy Hand
I met Phil Davison through my cousin and his wife, Irene Rainey Davison, when I was about 12 years old. Phil was a kind and gentle spirit. He took me under his wing and included me on his fishing outings on weekends. Phil, his close friend who was a high school teacher at Leuzinger High in Lawndale, California and I would hook up in San Pedro, drop Phil's 18 foot cabin cruiser in the water and head out to the local waters along the Southern California coastline between Palos Verdes and Playa dEl Rey, Ca.
I was surprised that I had so much luck catching many fish on those trips. Phil would let me take my catch home whereby my mom would prepare the fish for meals. My dad loved the fish. One of the things that made it so fun for me as a teenager was when riding in Phi's truck and pulling his boat on his trailer, he'd play the current rock 'n roll music. One morning when Phil came to pick me up to head for the boat marina in San Pedro, I was just getting ready to prepare breakfast. Phil showed me for the first time in my life how wonderful eggs sunny side up tasted when cooked in bacon grease. Oh, yummy!! I clearly remember when Irene met Phil and they started dating. It bothered me emotionally to know that Phil's wife had passed away when she delivered twin daughters, Dana and Donna. They may have forgotten, but they loved picking at me since they were very young and I was a target for fair game to give me a hard time. I did tease them as well. I barely remember it, but I was at Phil and Irene's wedding. Lastly, one day Phil took me out in his boat near the Redondo Beach breakwater. The swells were not bad when Phil first turned the helm over to me, but in a short time, the swells grew, and I was headed for the rocks. Phil took the helm, turned the boat into the large swell and put the pedal to the metal. Boy was I impressed! My heart goes out to Phil's family. He will be remembered by me. He helped shape part of my youth. I'll see you, Phil, across the river someday. My prayers and thoughts for the entire family. And bless you Irene for staying in touch with me all these years.
