How the book came to be.
Having achieved incredible success, entrepreneur Gordy Davis started reflecting on his life. What sort of legacy has he left behind? Despite making a record donation to Texas Tech University, Gordy felt there was more he could do. But before he could answer that question, he felt drawn to answering another question - what was his family’s legacy?
For years, Gordy had heard the story about his great grandfather Cashup. The pioneer, the homesteader, the business man. A rich legacy, but one relatively unknown, even to Gordy. The thought that Cashup’s story could help Gordy find fulfillment gnawed at him until one day, he decided to take a journey and gained a surprising mentor.
The voices behind the story
Jeff Burnside
Author Jeff Burnside is an accomplished investigative journalist who has received more than 26 awards for his reporting and philanthropy, including 10 regional Emmy Awards for his television news investigations.
Jeff’s also won top honors from the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), a Clarion Award (Women In Communications), a National Press Club award and two Ark Award nominations from the Humane Society of the United States.
His important work in environmental journalism landed him on the cover of NewsPro during his second term as president of the Society of Environmental Journalists. He's the recipient of a Ted Scripps Journalism Fellowship, a year-long advanced study at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and now serves on its board of advisors.
Jeff has served as a national journalism judge for the Scripps Howard/Poynter awards (service completed) and currently for Columbia University's prestigious Oakes Award for Environmental Journalism.
Jeff is a frequent speaker on journalism, journalism ethics and science communication. He is available now to speak about the real Cashup Davis story.
Email jeffburnside@outlook.com
Visit my site: jeffburnside.com
Gordon Davis
Meat scientist, educator and iCEV chairman, Gordon Davis has worn many hats throughout his career. The grandson of Cashup Davis, his background is integral to the underlying lessons Cashup can teach us.
Raised on wheat and dairy farms in Washington, Davis earned two B.S. degrees from Washington State University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Texas A&M University. He was a meat scientist for 13 years at the University of Tennessee and Texas Tech University. He has been involved in education for 53 years. As iCEV chairman, Davis was the executive producer of 2000+ educational productions until selling his company in 2021 and turning fully toward philanthropy, plus having fun.
He has authored/co-authored 36 refereed scientific journal articles and 93 meat science publications. He co-coached two national championship university meat judging teams, and has founded/co-founded 15 endowments and one foundation, with three college or departmental namings in his honor. Since 1964, Davis has received 49 industry, university, and business awards, including 10 national awards—Association of Career and Technical Education; National Agricultural Alumni Association; USDA; FFA; Sigma Chi Fraternity; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and four from the American Meat Science Association.