Letters to the Editors

Not an accident victim, a person

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 24, 2001

Re: Man killed in fiery truck crash, May 12

On Friday, May 11 there was a tragic accident on U.S. 19 in Hudson. The following day, an article appeared in the newspaper giving graphic details about this accident, which will remain in our memory for the rest of our lives.

Ricky Ray Davis was the man killed in this accident and I would like to tell you about his life and his family, no mention of which was included in the article. He came to live with his father and myself when he was 11. Shy and withdrawn, he blossomed into a son any parent would be proud to have. He was kind, compassionate, very family oriented and the type of person who would be there for any family member or friend who needed a helping hand.

He enjoyed, from an early age, building model airplanes and continued that enjoyment into later life, building remote control planes of a much larger scale. He liked to fish, bowl, and as I did, made an attempt at golfing because his father loved to golf and his youngest brother was on the golf team.

He had three nieces and two nephews whom he adored and who will truly miss him as their uncle. He was there for his brothers and sisters through good and bad times, as all families have, but he was the oldest and always there for them. His sister, Sherry in California, a brother, Robert in California, a sister, Lisa in Clearwater and a brother, Matthew, in Largo all will have a hard time coping with this loss, but will go on one day at a time.

His biggest dream in life was to have children of his own someday. That dream came true in a second marriage 10 months ago, with a stepson, Christopher, a stepdaughter, Hannah, and finally, one of his own, Shawn Ray, who is 21/2 months old. She will never know her daddy personally, but in our memories and those of our friends, she will know the wonderful man he was. As she gets older, she will know in just the short time her father knew her, how he felt about her.

So many times in life we read about tragic accidents, but we do not actually think about the person's life that was taken until it happens to you. This, my son, is a loving tribute to you from your father, Cecil, and your mother, Connie.
-- Connie Davis, Largo

This 'judge' lacks judicial sensibility

Editor: I recently decided to go to the night traffic court in Pasco County because a friend was being charged with a minor traffic violation. While there, I witnessed what I thought was something that needs correcting. I learned that there is not a judge hearing the cases but a wannabe judge, a lawyer with ambitions of becoming a judge. He said he was the hearing officer.

A Pasco County sheriff's representative issued a citation to a lady who was illegally parked in a space reserved for handicapped persons in front of a bank. I learned later that she was a bank employee and was in no way disabled, but she brought in a letter from the bank and gave it to the hearing officer. As soon as he read the letter, he dismissed the case without allowing the deputy to present his side of the charge.

The ticket writer was one of the parking enforcement specialists who work without pay and willingly give of their time because they feel that people who knowingly park in those spaces should be prosecuted for their actions. They also save taxpayers money by performing this service. When the specialist protested, the hearing officer stated that it was his decision to dismiss the case, and there was nothing more to be said.

This woman was not even asked to produce "evidence" in the form of a handicap ID tag that would have been issued to her. Instead, the judge just decided to dismiss the charge, and the specialist was not told what was in the letter nor permitted to read it.

God help us all, if this wannabe ever becomes an actual judge. I was taught that judges were supposed to be impartial and to enforce the laws on the books.
-- P.J. Mattson, Holiday

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