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Obituary
Roger "Rod" Mowbray Davidson, 78 died August 4, 2005, in Boise. He was born in Boise April 12, 1927. He served with the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1945 to 1947. After finishing his military service, Rod heard about a line of work that her couldn't resist-smokejumping. The U.S. Forest Service was in the process of opening a fire suppression base in McCall and Rod and several adventure-minded pals couldn't sign on fast enough. He fought fire with relish and distinction from 1947 to 1951 and came to be known as the legendary "Toad" in the process. He counted the time spent with his fellow jumpers as some of the best of his life. After completing a successful career with Mobil Oil Company in Southern California, Rod moved his family back to Boise in 1964. He opened the Brass Lamp Pizza Parlors in Boise and McCall and later opened Tom Grainey's Sporting Pub and the Highlands Hollow Brew House. Rod's affinity for people was contrasted by his love for the lakes and rivers and places in untamed parts of Idaho. His work with the Forest Service was always a source of delight. If there was a lookout tower within a hundred miles, he would lead his family there. Fighting fires in the remotest parts of the state was something he treasured. Rod jumped at McCall 1947-50.
Identifier
Davidson_Roger-M_McCall_1947
Publication Date
August 2005
Keywords
Smokejumping; Smokejumpers -- United States; National Smokejumper Association; Wildfire fighters; Obituaries
Disciplines
Forest Management
Recommended Citation
National Smokejumper Association, "Smokejumper Obituary: Davidson, Roger M. (McCall 1947)" (2005). Smokejumper Obituaries. 1119.
https://dc.ewu.edu/smokejumper_bios/1119
