CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Gov. Justice took time out of his remarks and announced that Dennis Davis, Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance, recently passed away.
“We have lost a great, great man in the State of West Virginia. As a Cabinet Secretary, he was all-in for our Veterans,” Gov. Justice said. “We’ve lost a big man; a man that was towering in stature, but was absolutely a model in every way. He could be tough. But every time you saw him, you wanted to gravitate to him because of his smile and his warmth.
“This really, really hits home to me,” Gov. Justice continued. “I thought the entire world of this man.”
Davis was named Cabinet Secretary of the WVDVA in January 2017. Prior to his appointment, Davis, a U.S. Army Veteran himself, served as a member of the Honor Guard at the Donald C. Kinnard Veterans Cemetery.
“Dennis lived a lifetime of service to the State of West Virginia and to his country, and he had a profound impact on the more than 137,000 brave Veterans who call West Virginia their home,” Gov. Justice said. “Without question, he was an absolute patriot in every way, who cared deeply for the heroes across our state that served our nation.
“With Dennis leading the department over the last four years, more than $2 billion has been provided in support of West Virginia’s Veterans, and we were able to open four new regional Veterans Assistance offices in the last year alone,” Gov. Justice continued. “We also exempted military retirement income from the state income tax for our Veterans, we added dozens of brand-new Veteran transportation vans, dedicated multiple new monuments honoring our Veterans throughout West Virginia, and lots and lots more. All of these achievements, without question, would have never happened without Dennis Davis.
“What an honor it was for me to call Dennis Davis a great friend and a great Cabinet Secretary. This state and this nation will truly miss Dennis Davis. Cathy and I send our most heartfelt prayers and sympathies to Dennis’ wife Margaret, and all his family and friends. We are profoundly sad, but I’m sure Dennis is in a better place. He’s surely got that big smile going on right now and, without any question, he’s getting something done.”
