Inspired by the Heart and Grit of the Choctaw People
Working for a counterparty of Choctaw Global, Jay Davies was introduced to the “heart and grit” of the Choctaw people when he met Justin Wilson of Wright City, Oklahoma. Their business acquaintance morphed into a friendship as Jay listened to stories about Justin growing up in Wright City.
The friendship began an understanding of Choctaw people and culture.
“I have the good fortune of now having friends and working relationships with individuals in the Nation,” Jay says. “Justin has become a good friend and an inspiring individual in my life. We had the opportunity to tour some of the counties in the Nation. When we went through Wright City, I got a sense of the grit and heart in Justin, hearing about where he grew up and the history of the area. I’ve appreciated Justin’s life story and his tenacity.”
Jay wanted to do something in recognition of the Choctaw people he interacts with and the values he shares with them. He connected with the Chahta Foundation to develop a scholarship, in part because of his own educational background and what it has done in his life.
Out of high school, Jay made his way to Vanderbilt University, and later earned his MBA from the University of North Carolina — the first in his family. He continues to use those skills and knowledge he gained to grow his business, Direct Investment Capital Enterprise.
“I’m a huge believer in the benefit of advanced education,” he says. “It’s a critical path in the long game of advancing your life goals.”
Jay and his wife, Tracy, chose to establish the Wright City Scholarship in recognition of Justin’s hometown, where Jay got acquainted with the heart and grit of the Choctaw people he calls friends.
That was the story Jay shared when he raised funds for the first Wright City Scholarship. He ran the Los Angeles Marathon in March 2020 with the support of friends and colleagues who contributed to the scholarship.
“It was a collaborative effort that I was grateful to be the hub of, but by no means do I take sole credit,” Jay says. “We’ve done a small good, and my goal is to continue to do that in the future.”
Credit: Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer
