Dr. Martin Davis, 96, passed away Monday morning. He practiced OB/GYN in Knoxville for 35 years, welcoming thousands of infants into the world, according to his obituary. He graduated from Knoxville High at age 16 (Class of 1939) and from UT at age 19. He was a founder of Parkwest Medical Center, billed then as “a bunch of crazy doctors are going to build a hospital in a cow pasture.”
Now that hospital is the largest in West Knoxville and is a member of Covenant Health. Dr. Davis was the hospital’s first chief of staff. But he was even prouder of co-founding the Florence Crittenton Home for unwed mothers. These women were given free housing and medical care by Dr. Davis and his partners. His three sons who lived to adulthood followed his career choice by becoming physicians. He was proud of his nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Ralph Woods, 77, died earlier this month in Kalamazoo, Michigan, following a brief illness. A Knoxville native, he was a stellar athlete throughout his school years, according to his obituary, excelling in basketball, baseball, track and football. He enjoyed a brief career with the Detroit Tigers and was a member of The Delcos, a successful doo-wop group, prior to serving his country in the U.S. Air Force.
He completed his education at Western Michigan University and spent his career as an educator at Three Rivers High School.