He’s Driven to Make Special Deliveries

Danny Davey started helping American Indians 42 years ago and has never faltered.

In fact, he is stepping up his efforts after retiring from a 40-year career as a driver with United Parcel Service.

“Now I have more time,” said Davey, who was honored on a Ralph Edwards “This is Your Life” television show for his consistent efforts to help the Navajo and Hopi Indians in Arizona.

“I’m glad I retired. When you are married to a company for 40 years you don’t have much time for anything else,” he said.

Nevertheless, Davey managed to drive the 1,500-mile round trip to northern Arizona in his own and rented trucks on a regular basis to deliver food and clothing to the Indians. And he never failed to deliver turkey dinners around Thanksgiving.

“This is my hobby,” said the Santa Ana man, who points out that he doesn’t collect stamps, women or play golf and instead helps people in need, especially Indians.

“That charges my battery,” he said. “I don’t do anything else like other people do. All my time is taken making gift baskets of food and clothing for the Indians.”

Much of the donated food is dropped off at his home by Orange County people who are aware of his efforts. In some cases he spends hours sorting the gifts, some of them unusable by Indians.

What can’t be used is taken to other charitable distribution centers.

But Davey, 65, said he might have to curtail his activities a bit.

“I may have to cut down because I’m getting older,” said Davey, who rents a small warehouse near his home to store the items he collects for the Indians.

He recently talked to members of the Womens Club of Fullerton to tell them about problems of the Indian women. “I was anxious to let them know the Indian women need sewing machines.”

The Indians call Davey by another name.

“They call me Road Runner because they say I don’t stay there very long and just keep going,” said Davey, who became aware of the plight of Indians during a hunting trip to Colorado after his discharge from the Navy after World War II.

He was wounded during kamikaze attacks by Japanese planes.

Later, he toured the Indian country in Arizona and was shocked with what he said were “terrible conditions of those full-blooded Americans.”

“They were hungry, needed clothes and a job. If you ever had to eat and live with the Indians you would know what I was talking about.”

Davey said he has no Indian blood in him. “I’m a white man, but the Indians trust me because they know I don’t mean no evil.”

He is producing and directing a motion picture entitled “Drums Along the Mesa” that will depict the artistic and crafts skills of Indians.

Davey has written two books: “Mac-Grew” and “Walking With Beauty.” Both are about American Indians and the art they produce. Proceeds from the sale of the books help pay for the trucks he rents to take food and clothing to the Arizona Indian reservations. It also helps pay for scholarships he provides to American Indians through his Thunderbird Foundation.