Council bids farewell to Woody Davis

City officials Wednesday bid a fond farewell to Alderman Woody Davis, who chose not to run for office this year after nearly two decades on the Shawano Common Council.

“It’s just been such a pleasure for 18 years,” Davis said. “It’s been a super place to do business.”

Davis said he hasn’t decided what he’ll do with his spare time, saying he and his wife, Donna, haven’t made any plans.

“We love Shawano, and we’ve been here for a long time, and we’d just as soon stay here rather than go traveling all over the country,” he said.

Donna attended the meeting Wednesday, doing so in person for the first time during her husband’s 18-year tenure, though she said she has watched every meeting on the city’s public access channel.

Davis said he appreciated all of the support he has received over the years.

“I was a rookie going into this,” he said. “I learned a lot from the people that were on the council at that time. I just truly enjoyed working with the people that are here and making the city of Shawano a better place.”

Davis also heard warm regards from other city officials and staff, and was presented with a certificate of appreciation from council President Sandy Steinke.

Davis had been council president for most of the years he served on the council but gave that post up to Steinke last year.

Davis had originally been appointed to the council to fill out the term of Mayor Jeanne Cronce’s father, Oscar Reinholz, who had passed away. He was re-elected every two years since then.

“The first thing he said to me was, ‘I have big shoes to fill,’” Cronce said. “And he filled them wonderfully and was very dedicated to the city and still is.”

Davis had strong praise for Cronce.

“She’s doing a wonderful job,” he said.

Davis said he would still be willing to serve on committees or commissions as a citizen.

“I’m a meeting kind of a guy. I don’t want to give it all up,” he said.