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Man built neighbor kids a pool; they celebrate his 100th birthday
Keith Davison was fighting loneliness after the death of his wife. The pool has proven to be the perfect antidote.
MORRIS, Minn. — When a retired judge built a backyard pool at age 94, he knew more than a few people would question how long he could even enjoy it.
Six years later, the doubters have their answer.
“Well, the secret is, don’t die,” Keith Davison says with a laugh.
As he sits by his pool surrounded by neighborhood kids and their parents, the judge, as they call him, has reached a milestone.
“Yeah,” Keith’s across-the-street neighbor, Jessica Huebner, says with a chuckle. “He’s 100 now.”
Laughter was not so common at Keith’s house six years ago.
“I knew I had to do something or go nuts,” he says.
The WWII veteran – with no grandchildren – was battling loneliness.
“You just can’t imagine what it’s like,” Keith told KARE TV in 2017. “April of 2016 was when I lost her.”
Keith lost Evy, his wife of 66 years. “You cry a lot. That’s just the way it is,” Keith said six years ago.”
And now?
“Oh wow!” Keith exclaims as one of the youngsters in his pool performs a trick off the diving board.
The chatter of happy children is as constant as the conversation taking place between Keith and the small gathering of neighbors on his pool deck.
“I love being here,” says Beverly Metzker, who’s come to the pool two or three times a week during the summer months with her 9-year-old daughter Zoey.
How does this compare to Morris, Minnesota’s other pool?
“What other pool?” laughs neighbor Hailey Karas.
Now, the only outdoor pool in Morris has become the neighborhood’s pool, too.
“You know, it’s a terrible business expense – terrible,” Keith says, “but it’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made.”
An investment continuing to yield dividends.
As the sun sets that same evening, dozens of the judge’s neighbors gather in Huebner’s front yard.
Their annual summer block party has morphed into a 100th birthday party for Keith.
The gathering features such birthday party staples as a bouncy house and a cookout and some things one normally doesn’t see. Take for instance, the 100-year-old tuba player who climbs the stairs to the mobile stage on which the Morris Area Community Band will play.
“It was a lot different than when I was 18,” Keith says as a Sousaphone is draped around his neck.
The theme from Hogan’s Heroes gives Keith plenty of opportunity the stretch both his lips and cheeks.
Jessica stands to the side admiring the judge’s stamina. “And he’s playing the largest instrument at age 100.” She notes. “Pretty amazing, pretty incredible.”
Keith descends from the stage and takes his place at the buffet tables lined up on Jessica’s lawn.
Plates are filled at the potluck that stretches across several other tables.
Neighbors converse and laugh.
Keith is lonely, no more.
“Thank you for enriching our lives with your goodness, love, generosity, and wisdom,” Jessica says into the microphone on which delivers a birthday message.
The standing ovation that follows is spontaneous and long.
When the applause ends, Keith summons a few of his own words.
“I’m surrounded by friends and what more could you ask for,” he tells to his neighbors.
The candles are lit on a pool-themed cake as Keith’s neighbors sing happy birthday.
As Keith blows out the candles, children gather around him and cheer.
A retired judge dug a hole in his backyard.
A hole now as full as Keith Davison’s 100-year-old heart.
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Reverend Shawn Morrison, founder and executive director of Good in the ‘Hood, shares his project to connect humanity through stories.
MINNEAPOLIS — In the busy intersections of life, some moments are often overlooked, while others are ignored.
Reverend Shawn Morrison, founder and executive director of Good in the ‘Hood, sees these intersections as opportunities for connecting and understanding.
“Three years ago, I just got a heart for this,” Morrison said, explaining that overlooking these moments was never an option. “Some might say it’s a calling that I was just compelled,” he shared, describing his deep motivation.
This project, “Will You See Me?” shares stories of people who are often unseen, aiming to create connections and build empathy. With each story, photograph and encounter, the team hopes to bring dignity and significance to every life they touch.
Ultimately, they plan to compile these stories and images into a book to serve as a powerful testament to the human experience.
“How can we not make it just an excursion but an encounter? How can we give dignity and significance a listening ear of understanding?” Morrison asked, hoping the project fosters empathy through shared narratives.
One participant, Wade Smith, reflected on the range of life experiences among the project’s subjects.
“I went to radio and television broadcasting school, yeah, and then I went to the service,” Smith shared.
Morrison’s approach includes photographing and recording participants’ words, preserving their voices authentically.
After initial challenges finding collaborators, Shawn Nielsen, owner of Nielsen Studios, and Elizabeth Korth, owner of Narrative Nuance, joined Morrison in his mission. Together, they approach individuals directly, offering respect, gift cards and a chance to be truly seen.
“People don’t even look at me,” Smith said. “It’s a problem for all Americans.”
Through each encounter, Morrison hopes to leave lasting impressions.
“I’m hoping that the people of our community start to see things differently, and they might ask this question, ‘What can I do?’” Morrison said.
Dre Woods, another participant, spoke about his family and dreams. Woods asked for help to take care of his four-legged companion, Oreo.
“I’m trying to feed her, right? That’s my baby,” Woods shared, revealing the motivations that guide him.
Dozens of stories and plenty of surprises, all things that give an often unshared perspective.
“I be asking God what it is why I’m still here. A lot of my friends not hear no more and I think about that,” Woods said.
Each interaction serves as a reminder of humanity’s shared connections.
“I think that it would encourage someone to do just something once. Each person could do something one day at a time, to be profound,” Nielsen said.
For Morrison, these stories are part of a larger mission.
“Boy, has there been a rest of the story for some of these beautiful people,” he said, hoping to inspire others to view their communities with fresh eyes.
Each moment and interaction serves as a call to action: look closer; adjust the community’s vision; and see the intersection they pass by more clearly — as part of their own destination.
Head to the Marcus West End Cinema to see some of this year’s up-and-coming movies.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — Editor’s Note: This video originally aired on Oct. 12, 2024.
Just in time for Halloween, the Twin Cities Film Fest has arrived and it features a movie perfect for spooky season.
“Don’t Move” will screen as part of the festival at 5:45 p.m. on Friday. Home grown directors Brian Netto and Adam Schindler visited KARE 11 News at Noon to share more about the showing.
The film is a thriller about a woman who is injected with a paralytic agent in a forest. She must fight for her life as her body slowly shuts down, according to a Twin Cities Film Fest release.
Netto and Schindler met at Woodbury Elementary School and have remained friends to this day. This will be their third film shown at the fest.
Tickets are $13 and you can learn more about this movie at this link. All film festival movies will be screened at the Marcus West End Cinema in St. Louis Park .
PRINCETON, Minn. — As many families fell on hard times due to hurricanes Helene and Milton, their pets have suffered too.
Ruff Start Rescue, headquartered in Princeton, Minn., rescued 24 animals from areas in Tennessee and North Carolina that were hit by hurricanes. Azure Davis, the founder and executive director, visited the KARE 11 studio to share more about these animals and how you can help.
For more information on Ruff Start Rescue and to look at adoptable animals, click here.
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