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People On The Move - Arthur Davey
06/27/2010 - By Chad A. Safran
Arthur Davey
HOLMDEL’S MAN OF SERVICE
It all began with a sidewalk for Arthur Davey. When he and his family moved to Holmdel in the 1970s, someone from the town wanted to put in a sidewalk on his rural street, which consisted of just one other house. Arthur did not like this idea. He fought the issue and prevented the installation, even making sure that the money allocated for that particular construction was put to use in other ways. This was just the beginning of his active participation in shaping Holmdel.
Before moving to Holmdel 36 years ago, Arthur grew up in South Amboy in a blue-collar neighborhood. The events of the world in the 1940s and 1950s brought him into the Navy, beginning with the reserves at the end of World War II when he was 16 years old. He later served three years in the Korean War. He even met his wife of 57 years, Agnes, while he was being held over in Virginia during his military career. Those years had a profound impact on Arthur.
“I met some good people there,” says Arthur, who has served on Holmdel’s Planning Board and been the Zoning Board chairman. “It intellectually improved me. I acquired the gift of gab and negotiating. I am very proud of being a veteran. I still get tears in my eyes when they play the National Anthem.” On his 79th birthday, Arthur’s service was honored when Lt. Richard Li of Holmdel flew an American flag over his construction battalion in Kandahar, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Arthur maintains his connection to military service by currently serving as commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5918. In his 15th year as commander, he helps to ensure the VFW mission to “honor the dead by helping the living” through veterans’ service, community service, national security and a strong national defense.
With his post, Arthur was able to donate a 9/11 memorial plaque made with two steel beams recovered from Ground Zero. He has also been credited with the establishment of the These Six Flags Memorial at the Holmdel Town Hall and was most recently a driving force behind the creation of monuments at Phillips Park, where eight granite structures commemorate conflicts from the 1700s to the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the names of Holmdel veterans past and present.
Arthur has been able to leave his mark on the rea by more than just honoring those who have served the country. He held the title of Deputy Mayor in 2000 before becoming Mayor in 2001-2002, when he would hold open meetings until 3 a.m. “I would never shut people off,” says Arthur, who spent nearly four decades with JCP&L as an engineer before retiring. “I wanted to let everyone have their say. I enjoyed being mayor. I’m a negotiator. I was an active guy. I got to know everybody. Everything I set out to do I got.”
During his time in office he was able to help local schools hold graduations at the PNC Arts Center for free, assisted the first aid squad with the acquisition of an ambulance, and enabled the fire department to purchase an extension ladder. In turn the fire department awarded him the Chief Ralph Molzon Memorial Award for his work with and support of the department. His work as mayor was also noticed by the N.J. Council of Mayors, who awarded him the World Trade Center plaque in 2002.
Despite no longer being as involved in Holmdel’s day-to-day political operations, Arthur remains active. He gets his exercise using his commercial lawn mower to keep his property and that of his family’s next door looking good. He drives around his four grandchildren when they need a lift. “I don’t find myself being bored,” says Art. “I find myself doing things I want to do now. I jump into the town when I see something is wrong. I love the town.”
STATS
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
Cornucopia Restaurant, Keyport
FAVORITE MUSICIAN
Glen Miller
FAVORITE MOVIE
Any war movie with John Wayne
PET PEEVE
Government Spending
THREE PEOPLE YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH
My friends from the Bachelor's Club in South Amboy
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