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B2N 20
by Jenny Schnettler
BRN 6594
Written and Published for the AIRSTREAM BLUE BERET Magazine
Schnettler, Jenny. “BRN 20.” Blue Beret, May 2024, pp. 16–19.
It was a true family affair...
This is the story of a passionate ambassador for the Airstream brand and a remarkable gentleman, Eric Davis. It actually begins with his father, Shelby A. Davis. Shelby was great friends with Charles "Chuck" Manchester when both were fraternity brothers at Akron University. As members of Phi Delta Theta, their room, known as "the Hub", formed the backdrop for fondly shared memories of music and merriment spawning a lifelong friendship. Shelby was a music major, and his beautiful voice would eventually be enjoyed by thousands at Airstream Rallies and Caravans... but we're getting ahead of ourselves in our tale.
Eric Davis BRN 20
After graduation, Shelby and Chuck pursued their separate careers - Shelby worked for B.
F. Goodrich in Akron, Ohio while Chuck worked for Airstream, Inc. In 1959, Chuck called his former roommate and convinced Shelby to join the Airstream team as its Director of Sales in Sydney, Ohio. Eric, Shelby's son, was five years old when the young family relocated to rural western Ohio.
Imagine a photo of yourself at age six sitting on Wally Byam's lap! Eric attended a Rally in Cody, Wyoming with his family, sharing the adventurers' dream alongside his dad's boss. Right from the start, Eric became one of the "Trailer Tykes". It wasn't all fun and games for young Eric - at age seven he worked with Betty Gross at Airstream, Inc. stuffing envelopes with promotional materials for dealers...and loved every minute of it. Soon, he was "promoted" to the production line and during high school, he continued stuffing - not envelopes, but insulation into the fiberglass bodies of the Argosy trailers in_Versailles, Ohio. During college, Eric worked in Sydney, Ohio at Airstream's R & D division, as well as the Corporate Offices at HQ.
Growing up in the company of Chuck Manchester, Andi Charles, and R. Dean Miller (their photographer) gave Eric a front row seat to the inner workings of both Airstream, Inc. as well as the newly formed Wally Byam Caravan Club. It was an era of exciting innovation and growth, but also one of significant change. The passing of Wally Byam in July 1962 at just 64 years of age
ushered in a shift in the company's leadership but not in its philosophy. The commitment
to pursue Wally Byam's vision was a testament to the incredible team Wally himself assembled for his succession plan.
Eric's father, Shelby A. Davis, was an integral part of that team. This produced that seed of passion for everything Airstream in young Eric. But quite surprisingly, it was an inspiration to Eric's mother too!
Airstream advertisement from 1967. Davis' mother designed interiors for Airstream in the 60s -including the one pictured.
Airstream founder Wally Byam during the Airstream Around the World Caravan in 1964. Part of Davis' personal collection, the photo was taken in Ethiopia.
She designed luxurious interiors for Airstreams, selecting fabrics, carpeting, wall coverings, draperies, and color palettes during the mid-1960's. Many consider her ensembles some of the finest examples of mid-century modern interior design and seek to preserve and re-create these iconic features today.
Between his father's executive position (and watching Dad sing at Airstream Events), and his mother's artistic contribution, the impact on Eric having both parents immersed in the Airstream world created an indelible imprint of luxury, quality, and adventure.
Eric worked in the furniture industry after college, rising to become Vice-President of Ello Furniture. But the Airstream brand flowed through his family's blood, and Eric eventually went to work at Jack Fast Airstream in Eugene, Oregon alongside his brother, who managed the dealership. Then in 2012, Eric returned to his roots and joined the team at Haydocy Airstream, now Mark Wahlberg Airstream and RV in Columbus, Ohio.
You won't meet a more enthusiastic supporter of the Airstream, Inc. brand and the Airstream Club International than Eric Davis.
His Big Red Number is 20! With the life-long legacy Eric enjoys, he passes along his excitement for the Club with every Airstream he sells.
Eric hosts a new-owner rally in the parking lot of the Mark Wahlberg Airstream and RV dealership annually, and he personally has paid first-year Club dues for each of these new members.
If you've done the math, you probably have realized by now that Eric Davis has been an Airstream "heir" for almost 70 years, having inherited the love and dedication to the lifestyle from an entire family devoted to Airstream. Long after many of us have retired, Eric embodies Wally Byam's spirit of "... Don't stop. Keep right on going..." as he continues sharing the dream of Airstream ownership with new friends every day. What a true legacy! We are so fortunate to have BRN 20 as part of our Airstream Heritage and celebrate Eric Davis.
Part of Davis' personal collection, this photo was taken during the 1961 lnternational Rally in Hershey. Pennsylvania.
WELCOME TO HERSHEY- A sea of silver during the 1961 lnternational Rally in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
