Whether it’s for the golf cart “hot rod” he rides around campus, his booming voice or his infectiously friendly nature, Chris Davis has become a well-known hallmark of Fountain Hills High School and, this spring, he’s finally going to see what retirement is all about.

A member of the FHHS security staff and long-time coach for the local cross country and track teams, Davis has worn a few different hats around the School District over the past decade.

He started off coaching the above-mentioned sports before pitching in as a substitute teacher.

A few years ago, Davis left the Fountain Hills Middle School campus to head up security at the high school. Believe it or not, working at FHUSD came shortly after Davis’ first shot at retirement. But now the story is getting a little ahead of itself.

“Before that, I worked for the United States Justice Department as a federal officer. I locked people up,” Davis said, laughing.

“Locked them up, served warrants, maintained federal corrections facilities. Things like that.”

Before even that, though, Davis led a life full of twists and turns, taking him far away from his home in San Francisco to Vietnam, back to the states for college and onward into his professional career.

“I left San Francisco when I was 20,” Davis said.

“I was training and looking to maybe run in the Olympics when I got drafted. I was there (Vietnam) for one year, 11 months and three days. It was a big awakening for me. It took me a long time before I wanted to even say anything about that.”

In the midst of all of that, Davis had played football at City College of San Francisco. He was a linebacker and a guard and, while working at a service station afterwards, he was recruited by the University of San Francisco to play for another two years.

In junior college, Davis was a world-class sprinter. He returned to his alma mater to teach physical education after wrapping things up with his own schooling, also taking on the job of intramural director.

“I left there in ’74 before going to the Justice Department for 26 years,” Davis said.

“I liked it, but they kick you out when you get to be 57.”

While working for the Department of Justice, Davis’ job brought him out to Fountain Hills for the first time back in 1986.

“I saw the place and said I’d like to retire out here,” Davis added.

And that’s exactly what he did.

Shortly after moving to the area, Davis said FHUSD was on the lookout for a cross country and track coach. He signed on and the rest, as they say, is history.

“That first year coaching was kind of rough,” Davis said.

“I believed in working the kids really hard, and I guess I was working them a little too hard. It took me about three years to get everything together.”

When it comes to coaching, Davis said the only disappointment he’s ever had was having an athlete he’s worked with decide they no longer want to take part in the sport.

“Either they lose interest, they get a car, they get a job or something like that,” Davis said.

“You work with them for a good two years and develop them, and then you lose them. That doesn’t happen too often. And it isn’t bad or anything. It’s just disappointing to see them go.”

As for the best part of coaching, though, Davis said he’s really enjoyed seeing his kids achieve their goals, the smiles that follow those achievements, and then seeing them go on to share their experiences with their teammates.

“I just love to see them go far,” he added.

“It’s great to see them go on to graduate and know they’re going to go far in their lives.”

Over the years, Davis said he’s gotten just as much out of the programs as his athletes have, but now it’s time to retire.

“I’m looking forward to having a little more fun and being free,” Davis said.

“There’s always someone there to tell you what to do. I’m looking forward to doing whatever I want. I want to relax, take some time for myself, get in better shape, go fishing, go hunting.

“I want to meet up with some of the folks I used to work with. If you feel like getting up at 8, you get up at 8. If you feel like getting up at 10, you get up at 10. That’s what I’m looking forward to.”

Davis said he has enjoyed his time within FHUSD, he feels like he’s achieved a lot, and he’s looking forward to seeing the schools and programs continue to excel after he takes off this coming spring.

“I’ll be missing all of my co-workers here, the administration and my kids,” Davis said.

“I’d like to thank the School Board for giving us their blessing to go out and do a lot of things, too.

“I’ve really enjoyed Fountain Hills. It’s a different place and it’s a lot of fun when you understand it.”