Submitted Photo During the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 4 Picnic at Minot’s Oak Park Thursday, Aug. 14, Joe Hall, adjutant and treasurer of the DAV Department of North Dakota, presented Service Officer Jim Davenport, left, with a plaque honoring him as North Dakota’s Outstanding DAV Member of the Year. Davenport is a member of DAV Chapter 4 in Minot.

Jim Davenport “never hesitates to get involved in virtually all aspects of Chapter 4 activities,” according to the Minot Disabled American Veterans Chapter 4 letter nominating Davenport for Outstanding Chapter Member of the Year.

Davenport, the chapter’s service officer, was given the honor in May at the 2025 North Dakota Department of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Convention in Jamestown. In August, he was presented the award at the Annual DAV Chapter 4 Picnic at Minot’s Oak Park.

Davenport retired as the McHenry County Veterans Service officer. For many years has held the position of Chapter 4 veterans service officer, a position he continues.

“He has assisted numerous Ward County veterans as a volunteer, even though he lives 22 miles away in McHenry County. Jim, at personal expense, has traveled to Minot and the surrounding area to meet with individual veterans, many of whom are DAV members and some who are not,” according to the nomination submitted to state DAV officials by Chapter 4 Commander Frank Senn.

Davenport’s list of accomplishments as a DAV Chapter 4 member includes:

– Chairman of the 2025 Vietnam Veterans Celebration held at the Minot Municipal Auditorium. Veterans from all over the area were invited.

– Project coordinator of the first ever Minot Military Women’s Symposium.

– Project coordinator of the Chapter 4 annual family picnic.

– Project originator and coordinator of the annual DAV Volunteer Presidential Recognition Award presentation and banquet.

– Organizer of Missing Man Table Ceremony provided to the 2025 Souris Basin Longbeards National Wild Turkey Annual Banquet.

– Member of Chapter 4 Battlefield Cross Ceremony team at local events.

– Project originator and coordinator of Chapter 4 new member orientation program.

– Member of the Souris Basin Transportation Board of Directors, overseeing transportation for disabled veterans.

– Certified mentor for the Northeast Veterans Treatment Court.

– Certified DAV van driver

– Team member at public DAV Flag Day Celebration held in partnership with Ryan Family car dealerships.

– Member of the committee that brought the first ever Western N.D. Honor Flight to Minot.

– Regular volunteer at Chapter 4 raffle sales at local businesses and public events.

– Member of Chapter 4 Flag Folding team, which presents demonstrations at various local events.

– Project manager for the Ward County Veterans’ Emergency fund.

Davenport also signed up 14 new Chapter 4 members from July 1, 2024, to May 2025.

Chapter 4 members gave unanimous approval to Davenport’s nomination at its Thursday, March 13, business meeting, according to the nomination.