Bob and Connie Davis

Bob Davis (C'61) grew up in Dubuque near the University of Dubuque campus and remembers attending athletic events with his father as a young boy. When he would walk home from grade school with his friends, he recalls going into the science building and checking out the labs at UD. Bob wasn't sure exactly where he wanted to go to college, but his mother convinced him to go to the University of Dubuque. This might have been because his mother, Lorraine (Ellwanger) Davis, graduated from UD in 1937. The tradition of the Davis family attending UD would continue with Bob and his sister Gayl (Davis) Carson (C'60), who married another UD alum, Richard Carson (C'59). Bob's cousin, Margie (Kramer) Martelle (C'70) also attended UD.

After Bob completed his freshman and sophomore years, he took a year off to volunteer for the Iowa Methodist Conference Church. However, in his free time he would still go back and visit the University. It was during this year that he would meet his future wife.

Connie (White) Davis (C'62) grew up on a farm near Hoopeston, Illinois. She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church where Rev. George Tjaden was the pastor and Maurene (Julius) Failor (C'53) was serving as the music and Christian education intern for the summer. Connie was so impressed with Maurene that she decided she too would attend UD.

Bob had stopped by the Jacob Conzett Lounge in Steffens Hall, where he saw a group of friends playing Crazy 8s.

"As I walked toward them, I saw a red-headed girl that looked pretty good," Bob said.

They were introduced and after chatting with the group for a while, Bob and Connie joined the group to go for pizza. Little did they know that this was the start of the rest of their lives and would soon become a tradition.

Earlier Bob's friend, Hans Schwantje (C'60) had asked Bob and Stuart Schepple (C'60) to be ushers in his wedding to JoAnn Van Dell (C'60) in Danville, Illinois, the next day which was the day before Thanksgiving. While getting acquainted over pizza. Connie told him that Danville was only about 25 miles from her home, so she gave him directions to get there, the same way she would be going home the next day. After Thanksgiving break, the pair continued to spend time together, even though Connie thought she might have a stalker.

"I wasn't too sure about Bob at first. He would walk me to class and would be there when I was done," Connie said.

Bob added, "It was when I had the year off school. I had nothing else to do!"

Early on, Connie promised her family and herself that she would not get married until after she graduated college. This led to a long courtship for Bob and Connie.

During their college years, they were both active on campus. Connie pledged Gamma Phi Delta and was involved with the student government. Bob pledged Mu Sigma Beta, was involved in student committees, participated in school plays, was a writer for the Q, and was the late-night radio host on UD's radio station, KUDD.

The pair fondly remember being together in a recreation leadership class which was required for them as Christian education majors.

"Bob never learned how to do the Irish Lilt! I tried my best to teach him, and so did the professor, Pete Peterson, but he never got the hang of it. I think the teacher passed him based solely on his effort," Connie said.

Together they attended most UD Sports events, enjoyed hiking and going down to the Shot Tower to watch the river and rainstorms. They both enjoyed being outdoors and exploring. Connie recalls that Bob would take her to different places that she had never seen before.

"We had an enjoyable time together, after I convinced her that I wasn't stalking her!" Bob said.

Bob knew he wanted to propose to Connie for a while. He talked to one of his friends whose father was a local jeweler. After getting the engagement ring, Bob drove to Connie's family home during Christmas break in 1959. Surrounded at the table by parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, the couple were holding hands under the table. Connie noticed Bob playing with his class ring, which Connie wore on her ring finger. Bob had slipped off the class ring several times and then placed the engagement ring on her hand. Connie knew it was a diamond ring, so they excused themselves from the table because she was about to cry tears of joy. The couple talked for a few minutes then returned to the table where Connie was able to show off her new ring and share the exciting news with her whole family. Although they were engaged during Connie's sophomore year, she stayed true to her promise and did not marry until after graduation. However, they married just two weeks after graduation.

"This seemed to be the trend at the time as we were one of many couples who got married that weekend, so not many friends could make it to our wedding because they were attending their own weddings," Connie said.

Connie and Bob got married in Connie's hometown on June 9, 1962. They were wed at First Presbyterian Church, then they had their reception in the church basement with cake and blue punch. Connie even made sure the punch matched the attendants' dresses.

After the reception, they went back to Connie's farmhouse where they had dinner with their families. They opened gifts and while packing up, they learned of a tornado in the nearby town. Luckily, it wasn't heading their way, so the newlyweds packed up their car and headed to Ohio, where they lived at the time, because Bob had to be back to direct Bible School on Monday. The couple jokes that their honeymoon was in Indiana because they stayed one night there on their trip back to Ohio.

Bob served as the director of Christian Education at Grace Methodist Church in Lima, Ohio, then transferred to First Methodist Church in Marion, Iowa. Connie was seven months pregnant when they moved. It just so happened that their associate pastor and his wife were also expecting a baby around the same time, and, as luck would have it, the two ladies gave birth on the same day. The new moms ended up sharing a room at the hospital. Both their son and daughter were born in Marion.

Bob received a scholarship to attend the University of Illinois where he received his master's degree in social work in 1968. Following graduation, Bob went to work for Hillcrest Family Services in various roles in Cedar Rapids as a case worker, in Des Moines as branch office manager, and then in Dubuque as director of development. After ten years with Hillcrest, he went to work at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa, working there for 30 years before retirement.

Connie enjoyed substitute teaching and other part-time jobs as she was able while their children were growing up. In 1979, Connie began working at for the Iowa Department of Human Services as an income maintenance worker.

Now retired, the couple stay very busy volunteering with their community and church as well as spending time with their favorite (and only) grandchild, Nick. Nick would often refer to his grandparents' house as his second home because he stayed with them so often. They love travel, some of their favorite trips were to England, Germany, Amsterdam, London, and Switzerland. They also love traveling within the states to National Parks. Bob and Connie are dedicated members of their Sunday School and enjoy going to meals with their group of Sunday School friends, whether it be at someone's home or restaurants.

Connie and Bob are frequent attendees at UD Homecoming. During Homecoming 2022, they loved visiting the Babka Aviation Learning Center and Wolter Woods and Prairies, catching up with friends, and seeing all the renovations that their campus home has made.

If you ever wonder where you might find Bob and Connie on every Tuesday before Thanksgiving, check out the local pizza places. The couple enjoy going out for pizza and reminiscing on that special day in 1958. They do not have many traditions for their wedding anniversary, but they look forward to celebrating their first date anniversary with pizza each year. Over the years, Doug, Lori, and grandson Nick have joined them in celebrating this tradition. In 2010, Bob and Connie decided to go on a last-minute trip to London, the date they left happened to be on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. They boarded the plane with big slices of pizza as they celebrated yet another wonderful year together.