'He would tell you the truth': Former Simi Valley Mayor Bill Davis dies at 95

UPDATE: A celebration of life for Bill Davis has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, 3050 E. Los Angeles Ave., Simi Valley.

Original story:

Former Simi Valley Mayor Bill Davis, who helped bring a presidential library and passenger rail service to the city, died at age 95 on Saturday.

Davis served as a council member from 1986 to 1998 and as mayor from 1998 to 2004, according to city records. He also served on the Ventura County Transportation Commission and Metrolink boards as well as on the planning commission and neighborhood council.

"He was a soft-hearted guy with a strong personality," said former Simi Valley City Manager Mike Sedell, who worked with Davis from 1995 until the former mayor's retirement in 2004. "You knew where he wanted to go and he knew he wanted to get there."

Davis' daughter Lynne Yeaman said her father wasn't a "normal politician" who would say what you wanted to hear.

"He would tell you the truth," Yeaman said. "Whether you wanted to hear the truth or not, he would tell you."

Davis was close friends with first lady Nancy Reagan and was "very instrumental" in getting the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley off the ground, Yeaman said.

"Nancy Reagan loved my dad because they decided to build the library there," she said.

Yeaman recounted a conversation between Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan that her father would tell.

"My dad was there and they're walking the property and Nancy says, 'Ronnie, this is it.' And he goes, 'What's it?,'" Yeaman recalled. "'This is where I want your library. This is where it needs to be.'"

She said her parents have dined with the Reagans and that the Davis family attended President Reagan's funeral.

Davis served on the board of the county transportation commission beginning in 1991 for at least 10 years, said Darrin Peschka, the commission's program manager.

"He had a heart of gold," said Ginger Gherardi, a former Santa Paula mayor who worked with Davis on the transportation commission board when she was executive director and on the Metrolink board. "He didn't suffer fools. I think he was that way with his city in terms of running his city and when he was mayor."

On board with Metrolink's launch

Davis was appointed to the Metrolink board in March 1991 and served through the end of his mayoral term in 2004, said Metrolink spokesman Scott Johnson. He served since Metrolink’s inception in 1991 and was instrumental in bringing passenger rail service to the region in 1992, he said. Davis was elected board chair in January 1999 and served in that role until his term expired in 2004.

The Simi Valley City Council will adjourn its Monday meeting in Davis' memory, said Samantha Argabrite, assistant city manager.

Davis' accomplishments include bringing Metrolink service to Simi Valley, increasing affordable housing units, restoring the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center and starting construction on the long-awaited Simi Valley Town Center, she said.

"In speaking with staff who were here when Davis led the city, he had a big personality and staff enjoyed working with him. Simi Valley would not be what it is today without Davis’ leadership," she said.

Sedell said his last conversation with Davis was several weeks ago. He told Davis he left the city in great shape.

"He was proud of the job he did as mayor and proud of the job he did in Simi Valley, and he had a right to be," Sedell said.

Davis leaves behind his wife Virginia, five children — William, Michael, Lynne, Jack and Wayne — 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, Yeaman said.

A celebration of life will take place in July in Simi Valley with more details to be announced, Yeaman said.

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Former Simi Valley Mayor Bill Davis dies at 95