A Lasting Legacy

Sometimes the measure of a man cannot be summed up in words, but in the legacy that he leaves behind. And sometimes, the stars align in just a way, that destiny takes hold and manifests itself in such a profound and unexpected way. Gatesville native, Dr. Tommy Davidson, proved that greatness in his community and the legacy in which he left will impact all those who crossed his path.

Tommy graduated from Gatesville High School in 1974 and was recruited and wound up lettering for the Baylor Bears from 1975-77, getting the opportunity to play for his dad who was offensive coordinator at the time. Enjoying college life, Tommy made the most of his time at Baylor, once winning Best Beard among his teammates during his four years on the Baylor football team -- a natural redhead, he had a really full red beard! He earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Baylor University in Exercise Physiology.

The stars aligned when Nina Hatalsky traveled from her native Whittier, California, site unseen, to Texas A&M University for grad school. Tommy, who was finishing his doctoral studies, had the same advisor and part time job as Nina in the Woodlands setting up health and fitness programs. The commute together from College Station to the Woodlands for work each week, and lunch together every day helped them to get to know one another quite well.

“It was awfully accelerated,” Nina mused.

While at A&M, Tommy had been a Physical Therapist Aide as a Grad Student and loved it, but chose chiropractic instead of physical therapy.

“Chiropractic appealed to Tommy because he would be able to diagnose, form a treatment plan and follow patient treatment care,” added Nina.

After marrying in 1984, the Davidsons moved back to her hometown of Whittier, California for Tommy to go to Los Angeles Chiropractic College on the old Lowell High School campus in Whittier, CA where he received his Doctorate of Chiropractics.

"Strangely enough it was in Whittier, where I grew up, and the college had moved and was built on my old high school campus,” said Nina. Another way life tends to collide in mysterious ways.

After three years, Tommy had obtained his DC, and the Davidsons had doubled their family, welcoming their son, Casey, in 1986 and daughter, Claire, in 1988. As it would happen, Gatesville resident Dr. Oley Beard had been serving the community for many years and was ready to retire. Tommy had a plan for everything, and intended to buy Dr. Oley Beard’s practice, in the same building Davidson Chiropractic resides in today, which would mean moving his young family back to Texas.

After obtaining his DC in California in 1988, he and his young family packed up and made the trek from California to Texas, to open what is now known as Davidson Chiropractic. Claire was only three weeks old, but traveling across country was not something that daunted Tommy in the least.

This wasn’t Dr. Davidson’s first trek from California to Gatesville with a budding family. You see, Tommy’s father, Cotton, had played professional football for the Oakland Raiders. His wife, Carolyn and their four kids, would spend fall semesters in Oakland for football season and would travel back just before the holidays each year and finish their spring semesters back home in Gatesville.

“They would all just load up in the station wagon, all six of them, and make that drive!” recalled Nina.

Opening Davidson Chiropractic in August, 1988 afforded him the opportunity to continue the working relationship he had developed with Nina each day, taking lunch and walking the dogs together. Home in Texas, the family rounded out into a family of five by welcoming their third child, Will, in 1989.

Raising his family in Gatesville, the town he had grown up in, was important to him. Tommy made sure he was active in his children’s sporting lives, coaching them in little league flag football, basketball and baseball. Family was extremely important, and he made the most out of every family vacation and get together. Laughter was always present and their time together was always an adventure, no matter how large or small.

Tommy was such a pillar in this community. He served on the city council, planning and zoning committee for the city of Gatesville and as a Trustee of Gatesville I.S.D. Tommy, along with his parents, Cotton and Carolyn Davidson, were instrumental in early fundraising efforts for the Boys and Girls Club of Gatesville. “He would just never say no. They needed a seat filled on the school board, and he would always say yes.” Always happy and willing to lend a helping hand.

Dr. Davidson’s practice was based on many of the things he learned during his time at A&M working alongside his soon to be wife, Nina. While there, he learned as a Doctor of Chiropractic, he could have more autonomy; that is to say he could have his own practice, diagnose and treat his patients.

“For some people, we were their family doctor. Tommy was really like a family doctor and so personable, calming and soothing.” stated Nina. “It was not at all unusual to treat three generations.”

That kind of trust among his patients and the community lead to his popularity, as well as furthering his chiropractic career. Tommy was on the sidelines throughout the 2000 Gatesville State Title Season serving as their athletic trainer and continued to help the GISD Athletic Training Department from ‘99-’05. Not only was he active in his Gatesville community, but at his alma mater Baylor athletic community as well. Tommy joined the Baylor Training

Program the first year the Lady Bears won a national title. He helped with both men’s and women’s basketball, and he continued to acquire all kinds of Baylor athletes. As he started with Lady Bears, then men’s basketball and his reputation continued to precede him where other departments were seeking Tommy out for therapy. In 2000, Dr. Davidson expanded his network by opening a practice in Valley Mills, also offering his services to the Valley Mills football program.

In October 2019, Gatesville and the Davidson family suffered a terrible loss when they lost Dr. Tommy Davidson to a car accident. With a glint in his eye and his wicked sense of humor, Dr. Davidson is truly missed among his family as well as within his community. He was very nurturing and always taking care of people. His lasting legacy will be felt through the thousands of individuals, young and old, that were fortunate to be treated and mentored throughout his thirty years of service in both the Gatesville and Valley Mills communities.

In part, that is why the football stadium field at Gatesville High School was recently re-dedicated in his honor. His parents, Cotton and Carolyn, his wife, Nina, and their children, Casey and Ericka, along with Kate, Lilly, and Collins, Davidson, Claire and Gable Bostic, and Will and Jasmine Davidson were all in attendance to thank the community. Will, Cotton and Casey were honorary captains making the trip to center field for the coin toss.

The Tommy Davidson Scholarship Foundation recently hosted their first annual golf tournament at Tommy’s beloved Gatesville Country Club, a club of which he was the unofficial commissioner. Proceeds from the tournament go to award scholarship recipients from Gatesville and Valley Mills Independent School Districts.

Through the scholarship, as well as all the lives Dr. Davidson touched, he will remain a lasting mark throughout Gatesville, Texas. His name, good nature and caring compassion now live on forever.

“Strangely enough it was in Whittier, where I grew up, and the college had moved and was