KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Some say with computers and cell phones, handwriting is a lost art. But not when it comes to Laird Davis, 9. He is a very good writer.

"I try to do my best the first time, but sometimes I have to erase. It's normal to do," Laird told KMBC's Bev Chapman.

Laird said he always has a sharpened pencil.

"One thing I really like is perfect work," Laird said.

Chapman reported that it has paid off for Laird. He recently won the state championship for handwriting.

"When I found that out, I was flabbergasted," Laird said.

He submitted a sample of his writing, which included his name.

"My middle name happens to be Talty. I kind of thought that was weird," Laird said.

But the judges found nothing wrong with his name or his writing, Chapman reported.

"Say you write your name and then you say, 'I don't like the way this looks.' So redo it until you say, 'I think this is really good. I like it,'" Laird said.

Like other children at Notre Dame de Sion, where he is a third grader, Laird loves to play outside and he has a favorite video game. But he does not spend much time using a keyboard.

"I don't use computers that much because my mom barely lets me get on her computer, which has that stuff," Laird said.

He also does not send text messages.

"I don't own a cell phone yet," Laird said.

Instead, Laird writes.

"If you don't have good handwriting, you won't be able to accomplish tasks you need to do in your life," he told Chapman.

The next task Laird said he would like to accomplish is to win the National Handwriting Championship.

"I have a one-in-47 chance because I'm not sure that Hawaii and Alaska are in this thing," Laird said.

He said he will do his very best.

"I have no idea which pencil I used to write down my nomination, but whenever I see it, I want to thank it a whole lot," Laird said.

Laird is the son of Catherine and Todd Davis. He also has an 8-year-old brother, Wheeler.