Tyler Legacy High School unveiled the Memorial addition of Dale Lee Davidson, United States Marine Corps Captain and 1973 Robert E. Lee High School graduate, at the Veteran Memorial Site on the Tyler Legacy High School campus. Captain Davidson was killed in a training accident in Japan.
Local attorney Randy Roberts spoke at the event, sharing school memories about his classmate Davidson. Roberts spoke of their mentor and debate coach, Alan Shumate, also memorialized at Legacy High School.
Captain Dale L. Davidson was born on September 27, 1954, in Texas City, Texas. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps through the delayed entry program in December of 1972. He entered recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego on June 14, 1973. Graduating from boot camp, he reported to Infantry Training School, Camp Pendleton for his Primary Military occupational specialty of 0311.
After spending five years within the enlisted active duty ranks and reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant, Captain Davidson enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin on August 17, 1978, under the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Program. Captain Davidson graduated from The University of Texas in August 1981 with a B.A. in Business Management.
After graduation Captain Davidson was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on August 18, 1981, and was transferred to TBS, MCDEC, Quantico, Virginia. Before reporting to 3rd Force Service Support Group, Captain Davidson spent 22 months as a company commander with 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine division, fleet marine force. Arriving at Headquarters and Service battalion in June of 1990, he was assigned as an S-3 officer.
Captain Davidson is survived by his wife Lesli Davidson and his parents Odie and Karen Davidson of Houston, Texas.