In Memoriam: Randy Davidson

My best friend and mentor.  Advocate of the rights of land and mineral owners and legal counsel to numerous mineral owners.

Randall "Randy" Stephen Davidson

Randall Stephen Davidson was born on February 12, 1951 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Hughbert Henry Davidson born in Hemphill, Texas and Claudia Evelyn McGown born in Crossroads, Texas and passed away peacefully on Saturday January 7, 2023 in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

Randy loved a good yarn, an incredible view, and a comfortable chair. His greatest joys were the adventures, quiet times, celebrations, and of course skinned knees, tears, triumphs and heartfelt hugs and kisses from his beloved grandchildren. A ride in the country or a road trip were considered some of life’s greatest pleasures. An eighteen-hour drive stuck in a car with three women could not dampen his enthusiasm for the road. The sudden loss of a storyteller, husband, father, and grandfather who left an indelible mark on those he encountered has created a hole in the hearts of his family and friends who loved him dearly. 

Growing up in Shreveport, he began his education at Southern Hills Elementary School, then onto Ridgewood Junior High, and finally Woodlawn High School where he was an offensive lineman on the 1968 State Championship Woodlawn Knights football team. A National Merit Scholar, he attended Harvard College beginning in 1969 where he made lifelong friendships and graduated with an A.B., cum laude in 1973. His Louisiana roots called him home following his undergraduate studies. He returned to Baton Rouge where he attended Louisiana State University and received his J.D., Order of the Coif, in 1976. 

Following law school in 1976, he began his career with Blanchard, Walker, O’Quinn and Roberts in Shreveport, where he settled with his young family, Sheri, Megen and Alix. In his spare time, he established his private law practice Davidson, Nix & Jones which eventually grew into Davidson Summers. The collaborations with all the attorneys throughout this journey was one of the proudest achievements in his lifetime. Randy was a member of the Louisiana Mineral Law Institute Advisory Board and frequently lectured on mineral rights law specific to the state and wrote many publications in the areas of his expertise. 

Randy was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother, Garland Davidson. He is survived by his wife of almost 51 years, Sheri Parnell Davidson; daughter, Megen Davidson Manson (Troy); daughter, Alix Davidson; grandchildren, Rowan Davidson, Wyatt Manson, Adler Manson and Quinn Manson; father-in-law, James Parnell; his brother, Keith Davidson; brother-in-law, John Parnell, Sr; nephews, Brian Davidson, Richard Davidson, John Parnell Jr., and Kristopher Parnell; nieces, Stephanie Davidson Lewis and Christy Hart; along with numerous great-nieces and nephews.

The family would also like to recognize his beloved work family whom he valued and loved very much: Law partner, Grant Summers; his incomparable Executive Assistant, Jan Carter and Office Manager, Donna Rambo; fellow attorneys, Julia Blewer, Wm Lake Hearne Jr., Andrew Martin, and J. Davis Powell; and his wonderful legal staff, Kim Moss, Alysia Harrison, Veronica Ogle and Michelle Boynton, many of whom worked with Randy for decades. Finally, we would like to acknowledge long time and very special friend and member of Randy’s inner circle, DeeDee Brooks. Randy had a vast array of family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances all of whom influenced him in different and important ways. 

The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all of the Christus doctors, nurses and caregivers who attended to Randy during his brief illness: Dr. Russell S. Fileccia, Dr. Corky Davis, Dr. Timothy Danish, Dr. Varsha Pujala, RN Kimiko Davis and RN Sister Saji. 

A celebration of Randy’s life and legacy will be held at one of his favorite places, “the office”, 330 Marshall Street, Suite 1114, on Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. In keeping with his Saturday work casual approach to life, we would encourage everyone to dress comfortably and come prepared to raise a glass of his favorite bourbon, share a funny story or two and help us remember Randy in the most classic Randy way possible - a party. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made to Sisters of the Destitute c/o Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 315 Marshall St., Shreveport, LA 71101, The Nature Conservancy, 1324 N. Hearne Ave. Ste. 202, Shreveport, LA 71107 , or a charity of the donor’s choice.  

 

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Denison on January 16, 2023 at 7:23

I extend my sympathy for the loss of your dear friend and mentor.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on January 16, 2023 at 7:45

Thank you, John.  Randy liked to joke that he was the token "mineral owner attorney" on the many O&G related boards on which he served.  The preponderance of his fellow board members were attorneys from big law firms with big O&G company clients.  Although his obituary covers some of those boards on which he served, here is a detailed list from his CV.  He interviewed the vast majority of high school graduates in the ArkLaTX who applied to attend Harvard over many years.  We were members of the Riverfront Merchants Association and he and I started Shreveport 2000 Coalition in 1998.  We had a standing lunch appointment on Tuesdays for fifteen years.  Much of what I can contribute to GoHaynesvilleShale.com, he taught me.  I miss my friend.

Published Works

  • “The Overriding Royalty,” 27th Annual Louisiana Institute on Mineral Law, 1980
  • The Mineral Servitude under Louisiana Law, Half Moon Seminars , April, 2009
  • Haynesville Shale – Representing the Landowner, SBA December CLE, December, 2010
  • “Representing Landowners in the Haynesville and Bossier Shale,” 58th Annual Louisiana Institute on Mineral Law, 2011
  • Haynesville Shale Developments, Shreveport Inn of Court, May, 2011
  • Update of Mineral Law – Panel Member, SBA Recent Developments by the Judiciary, October 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Recent Developments in Louisiana Mineral Law – Panel Member, 59th Louisiana Mineral Law Institute, March , 2012
  • Author, “Mineral Lease Division Revisited – An Old Doctrine with New Applications”, Louisiana Mineral Law Journal, 2013
  • “Firm Transportation and Minimum Volume Commitments – A Panel Discussion of Marketing Infrastructure, Legal Framework and Relevant Jurisprudence and Decisions,” , Co-Author and Co-Presenter, 65th Mineral Law Institute, 2018

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Harvard University “Schools Committee” for North Louisiana, Chairman, 1986 – Present
  • Riverfront Merchants Association, Inc., President, 1994 – 1995
  • Shreveport 2000 Coalition Inc., President, 1998 – 1999
  • Shreveport, Louisiana State and American Bar Associations, Member
  • Louisiana Mineral Law Institute Advisory Council, Member
  • Louisiana Civil Law Institute Committee on Unsolicited Offers for Purchase of Mineral Rights, Selected Member, 2013 – 2014
  • Louisiana Commission to Study and Advise Legislature on Cross-Unit Laterals, Selected Member, 2014 – 2015
  • Louisiana Civil Law Institute Standing Committee on Mineral Rights, Selected Member, 2018 – Present

 

Permalink Reply by M B Gilster on January 16, 2023 at 7:32

Stunned to hear but we were blessed to have his insight & wisdom thus prayers out to his family & close friends.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on January 16, 2023 at 7:49

Thanks, MB.

Permalink Reply by Steve P on January 17, 2023 at 6:35

Skip:  I am shocked and saddened to read this news.  Randy and I attended LSU Law at the same time, and he and I had continuing but infrequent interactions back in the 1980's when I was in private practice, both when he was at Blanchard Walker, and then when he formed his own firm. 

Great guy, great attorney.

My condolences.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on January 17, 2023 at 7:22

Thanks, Steve.

Permalink Reply by Iris on January 19, 2023 at 10:01

Skip, just noticed your friend & mentor had passed, Randall Davidson.  My condolences to you and his family and associates in his law team.  Drew Martin with his firm was a pleasure to work with.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on January 19, 2023 at 10:37

Thanks, Iris.

Permalink Reply by Keith Mauck (Site Publisher) on January 23, 2023 at 3:45

My condolences, we always had great interactions with Randy. So sorry to hear of this... He was no doubt a friend to landowners and leaves a huge hole in so many ways.

Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on January 23, 2023 at 3:53

Thanks, Keith.

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