Update: The Celebration of Life for Porter Davis will be held Friday. December 29, 2023 at 1PM at the Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
I first met Porter Davis in the Ron Paul days and knew immediately he was to be a friend for life. He was no newcomer to politics at that point, nor I, and we compared notes often from that point forward. He had been a Libertarian and served in the house in Oklahoma as I believe the first Libertarian representative. He already knew that wasn’t going to work as a plan, but fully recognized Ron Paul as a libertarian type Republican and worked diligently with the Ron Paul team in Oklahoma to make Ron Paul President. Clearly that did not happen, but it changed the political landscape and all of us involved too.
Featured Photo from 2016 at a Liberty Event in Tulsa with Jon Muckleroy, Sandra Crosnoe, Dave Bro, Porter Davis, Jake Peters (L-R)
Porter kept a photo on his phone of me with him at the Rally for the Republic in St. Paul Minnesota in 2008. Whenever, we would get together in person, he would pop that out and show me. I bet he did that with others too, because he was all about the people and all about the Lord at the same time! He had a vision because of His close walk with our Lord, and the Lord gave him a plan because of his love for the people.
Often when we would talk, he was in his garden I believe listening and praying. He sought out believers in the political arena, like Dennis Peacocke and Doug Wead. He read books, researched and studied. He loved his family fiercely. He went to meetings to network with others up until a few weeks before his passing. And he shared his plans with those who would listen.
We worked together on several of his plans notably, The Precinct Project, The Gold State Initiative, and the OK Grassroots Project 1.0. Many of you did as well! He was a founding board member for OKGrassroots and R3publicans. He will be missed greatly!
Today I was planning to write an article asking you to read the OK Grassroots Project 1.0 (available online in CLC Library here) written by Porter Davis and published in 2015. Porter gave OKGrassroots permission to publish this little book in its entirety and make it available to everyone to read online. The reason you should do that is that it will help you understand both why and how we must take back our local communities, neighborhoods, and/or precincts. Many of us think we are involved in politics. What we are really involved in is the battle for life and righteousness in our time and space. Sometimes that plays out in elections, but most times it plays out in caring for our neighbors, spreading the gospel by doing it, and loving one another as we go. We must focus locally and engage locally to even be in the battle!
Porter’s bio is at the back of this book and shared here:
Many are thanking Porter for all he did. He will be greatly missed!
Porter Davis, as my grandfather would say was a Prince of a Fellow. Porter mentored myself and a host of young people throughout the years in the Oklahoma Liberty movement, and he is one of the few who laid the foundation for the modern day Oklahoma Grassroots Movement today. He sought and fought for the truth and always did it unwavering but with gentleness and compassion. His love for Yahshua/Jesus and his neighbor showed in all his work .
There is a huge void now and the new generation of the Oklahoma Liberty Grassroots will have very big shoes to fill.
Kenny Bob Tapp, Cimarron County
Porter Davis understood the bottom up structure of the Precincts and the power a well developed precinct would bring back to the people!!
LaShelle Griffith, Washington County
Porter was a mentor, adviser and friend as I worked out how to apply my education in economics and history to the political process in a way that would serve the cause of liberty. His consistently calm demeanor and steadfast devotion to restoring a strictly constitutional manner of government in Oklahoma and America were an inspiration and bedrock. We will miss him greatly and carry on this torch he has passed to us.
Ryan Underwood, formerly Tulsa County (now in Texas)
So many of us who will miss Porter’s gentle and reasonable manner, his steadfast friendship and above all the encouragement of his persistence in winning the good fight for our families. In September of 2018, the Lord blessed me to attend the annual Statesmen conference with Porter. What a grand time to remember… even his dancing as one young at heart in the joy of serving our Lord in the fellowship of the saints!
Randy J. Barnett, Tulsa County
Porter Davis was completely unknown to me, but when he came across my Facebook feed as a friend “suggestion” due to our mutual friends, I simply sent a friend request, which he accepted. That was normal at the time as being new, I was eager to grow my network and absorb as much helpful information as possible. But, yet, I didn’t ever speak a word or hear a word from Porter. I did not have the foggiest clue who he was.
We had a mutual friend we were both close to though and one day I heard he was ill and on hospice. My first thought was, “I never even got to meet him” and that thought was so grievous to my spirit that I wept uncontrollably. God clearly impressed upon me that I had to meet him, I assumed it was to pray with him. I had no idea of the greatness that defined Porter.
So, I did something I had never done before in my life….I requested a meeting with someone I did not know to do what I did not know! What neither of us knew was that God was knitting us together — Porter had been working the Precinct Strategy for decades. I was brand new to the Precinct Strategy but had been utilizing that strategy teaching others how to reclaim their stolen territory to restore the voice and authority of the people. It was learning about precinct strategy that brought me into the GOP in the first place!
Precinct strategy had become my passion and my mission. I had spent countless hours working with county GOP members around the state because I could see this was the only way to be successful in restoring the voice and authority of the people. My mantra was, “Our founding fathers understood that the strongest unit of government is the individual (meaning me and you)” and then I met this man who had already gone before me and had written all of it down. I was in awe.
After we met I began to read his writings and I wish I could say I had made it through all of them, but I have not yet. However, he even went one better. Porter honored me greatly by offering to not only attend our Patriot Retreat in late September, but he agreed to speak. Spending the evening together the night before at our grassroots bonfire to kick off the battle for the state committee meeting on October 14th was a cherished moment in my memory. His beloved Terri even gave a beautiful tribute to Claire Kennedy as it was her birthday.
I have very few memories compared to most and that is my only regret because I know I barely scratched the surface of his indelible spirit. Porter, you once told me that you felt God was showing you other people who were carrying out your mission. You said you thought he was telling you that you weren’t that important — I disagree. I believe He gave you a mantle, but He wanted you to know that it was in safe hands. Godspeed Porter, I and many others will continue to build your beloved precincts and fulfill your vision.
Lynelle Medley, McIntosh County
Oklahoma grassroots activists lost a relentless leader, coalition builder, and friend. Porter Davis was a politically savvy, principled visionary who would seek common ground with anyone working toward expanding liberty for all people. His voice has been important for our time, and I hope that it will live on and continue to be heard even though he is no longer with us in this realm.
Joanna Francisco, Tulsa County
There will be a Celebration of Life service for Porter at Fairview Baptist Church, but probably not until late December or early January. Porter’s wife, Terri, fell and severely broke her arm last Saturday and is facing surgery for that on top of the loss of her husband of 47 years. Please keep the family in prayer.
Update: The Celebration of Life for Porter Davis will be held Friday. December 29, 2023 at 1PM at the Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Originally published November 16, 2023 / Updated December 4, 2023.
Original content via OKGrassroots
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