Original story by Bill Robinson, Register News, 11 June 2006

Geena spent this weekend in Kentucky, accompanying her father to a school reunion at Berea College, which both he and Geena’s late mother attended. The following is an excerpt from a story in today’s Richmond Register.

In 1936, William Davis graduated from Berea College. In 1956 he and his late wife Lucille, who also attended Berea, had a daughter they named Geena.

While many proud parents can envision their new-born growing up to become president someday, the Davis’ little girl grew up to play a president on TV. At age 49, Geena Davis, who won an Oscar for role in the 1988 film “The Accidental Tourist,” became the star of “Commander in Chief,” playing the role of America’s first woman president. She garnered a Golden Globe for this most recent role.

When Commander in Chief first appeared on Sept. 27 last year, it had the highest viewership for any TV show to debut on a Tuesday night, according to Wikipedia.com. It remained the top-rated Tuesday night show until “American Idol” bumped it from the top spot.

Davis, who had previously attended alumni events with her parents, tried to shun the limelight during her Berea visit. That’s a bit difficult for a celebrity who stands six feet tall when she visits a small town.

Wearing a baseball cap, large sunglasses and a casual white pants outfit, Davis asked not to be photographed Saturday afternoon as she and her father toured a display of antique tools in the Berea College industrial technology building. One does not disobey the Commander in Chief, even if she only plays one on TV.

Saturday evening, Davis was elegantly outfitted in a white summer dress and smiled graciously as she accompanied her father to Berea’s alumni awards banquet in the old Seabury Gymnasium.

In addition to her visits to Berea, Davis spent some time in Kentucky when she filmed the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own.”