HAMPTON — Unitil Corporation recently dedicated one of its operational facilities to the memory of a former employee, paying tribute to the lasting legacy he left behind.

Dozens of former co-workers, friends, family members and neighbors of John Davis II, who live near the recently upgraded Unitil Natural Gas Regulatory Plant on Hawthorn Road in Dover, gathered to celebrate his life and officially dedicate the building at a ceremony on Tuesday, August 27.

Davis served as a senior land agent for Unitil for several years and was praised for his enthusiasm and passion for his work. After his death in 2020, Unitil — a Hampton-based electricity and natural gas provider to customers across New England — sought ways to honor Davis and his work. Ultimately, they decided to name the facility John A. Davis II Station.

“This is a fitting tribute to a man who worked hard to be the best at all times, never compromised his integrity, could always be counted on, and never wavered in his commitment to others,” said Mark Dupuis, Unitil’s director of gas systems and transmission operations. “His spirit was embodied in all of the talented, creative, and dedicated men and women who faced many challenges to ultimately design and build this state-of-the-art natural gas regulatory facility that now provides safe, reliable power to Unitil’s natural gas customers in the Dover and Durham communities. From this moment on, this facility will proudly and prominently bear John’s name forever.”

A plaque with his name is now publicly visible on the brick exterior wall.

“It was such a beautiful dedication to my father,” said his daughter Summer Carney. “We were all so touched when we found out. We were incredibly honored, and I know if he were here to see it, he would feel the same way.”

Dupuis expressed gratitude to neighbors for their support and spoke about the challenges Davis sometimes faced in his role as a real estate agent, whose job was to find properties suitable for municipal infrastructure.

“You need someone who is thoughtful, who is passionate about what they are doing, who can explain to people what is going on and really give them confidence that what they are going to see there is ultimately going to be something they are going to like. They were honest, they listened to their concerns and they wanted the best possible outcome,” he said.

The facility serves Durham and Dover, an area Davis has worked closely with during his time at Unitil. Station upgrades began last year to meet increased demand for the system from both communities. In addition to increased capacity, the improvements include improved operational safety equipment and security upgrades. The addition of a soundproof building also minimized the operating noise of the gas regulators, while a heating system was installed to warm the pipes and prevent icing. New fencing and vegetation were also added to improve the aesthetics of the property.

This article originally appeared in the Portsmouth Herald: Unitil dedicates Dover facility to former employee