April 27, 2023 at 11:11 a.m.

Community leader Davidson dies at 87


By River News Staff-

Mel Davidson, former general manager of the Rhinelander paper mill and longtime community leader, died Saturday at the age of 87, his family reports.

Davidson, who led the mill in the '80s into the '90s and served as vice president of Wausau Paper, was known for his dedication to the Rhinelander community.

While he was a native of Nebraska, Davidson "loved Rhinelander from the day he moved here," according to his obituary.

In particular, Davidson was instrumental in the construction of the YMCA of the Northwoods back in 2004.

The facility has often been referred to as "the house that Mel built."

In 2010, Davidson continued his service to the community by founding the Leadership Oneida County program.

The intent of the program is to expose participants to various areas of the community, challenge their thinking, and inspire them to get involved in improving the quality of life for Oneida County. The program is designed for driven professionals that are committed to personal, professional and community growth.

In 2011, Leadership Oneida County created the Mel Davidson Award in recognition of Davidson's contributions to the community. The award recognizes any person in Oneida County that shows outstanding leadership and service within the county. Nominees do not necessarily have to have previous history with the Leadership Oneida County program.

Davidson's full obituary is published on Page 4.

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