Colony Days King & Queen Dave and JoAnn Davis

By Camille DeVaul · Fri Oct 10 2025

This year’s Colony Days celebration will honor two longtime Atascadero residents whose lives and legacies have been deeply intertwined with the town’s history. Dave and JoAnn Davis have been named the 2025 Colony Days King and Queen, a fitting recognition for a couple who have spent more than six decades building family, business, and community in the heart of Atascadero. 

Both born in 1940, JoAnn (Mecham) Davis entered the world at the Atascadero General Hospital, while Dave was born in Pomona before moving to Atascadero in 1954. They each graduated from high school in 1958 — Dave from Atascadero High and JoAnn from San Luis Obispo High — and that same year, the young couple exchanged vows at the Atascadero Memorial Church, now known as ABC Church. This August marked 67 years of marriage for the pair, a milestone celebrated by their children, Brad and Dede, both born at the Atascadero General Hospital and still living nearby. 

The Davis family’s contributions to Atascadero can be seen across generations. In 1962, Dave and JoAnn opened Davis Body Shop, which continues to operate today as the city’s longest-standing business under the same ownership. Their commitment to the town’s economic and social fabric is also reflected in their record as the longest continuous member of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce. 

Beyond business, Dave and JoAnn poured their energy into local youth and community programs. They were longtime supporters of Atascadero Youth Athletics (AYA), women’s softball leagues, and bowling leagues at the old alley downtown. In the 1960s and ’70s, they sponsored activities at the Atascadero Speedway and actively supported the San Luis Obispo County Fair, purchasing animals at auctions to benefit FFA, 4H, and Industrial Arts students. 

Their ties to Colony Days itself stretch back to the 1963 Golden Jubilee, which celebrated Atascadero’s 50th anniversary and set the stage for today’s beloved tradition. The Davises participated in those festivities and have continued to be part of Atascadero’s annual celebrations ever since. 

Music and recreation were also an important part of their story. Dave, a skilled electric guitarist, played with classmates at local venues such as the old Grange Hall before joining the band The Revels. The group went on to record regional hits, including “Church Key” and “Comanche” — the latter later featured in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film “Pulp Fiction.” Outside of music, Dave and JoAnn enjoyed boating and water skiing at Atascadero Lake during the late 1950s and early ’60s and were active in the Atascadero Ramblers, a family motorcycle club that raised funds for local causes. 

Service has also been a constant theme for the couple. Dave remains an active member of the Atascadero Masonic Lodge and once served as an auto body instructor at Cuesta College, mentoring future mechanics. Meanwhile, JoAnn carried forward her family’s entrepreneurial spirit — her father founded G&S Motorcycles in Atascadero, which operated from 1966 to 1978. 

Together, Dave and JoAnn have lived through the transformation of Atascadero from a small, close-knit colony town into the vibrant city it is today.Their story mirrors the community’s own history: rooted in tradition, built on hard work, and enriched by family and friendship. 

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