Don Davis (politician)
Encyclopedia
Donald Robert Davis was an American
politician. He served in many roles, from decorated war veteran to petroleum executive, board chairman, association president, Jacksonville City Council president and Florida state legislator.
to Lucien and Lucille Davis. He grew up in Coronado, California
and graduated from Coronado High School
in 1949. He attended the University of Redlands
in California before serving in the United States Army
for 3 years, leaving the service as a Sergeant First Class
. He was a decorated Korean War
Veteran, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge
, the National Defense Service Medal
and the Korean Service Medal
with 3 service star
s. After returning to the states, Mr. Davis married Alice Claudia Berry of Miami on December 18, 1954. He resumed his education and received a degree from the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA) in 1959.
in 1960 with the Occidental Life Insurance Company (now Transamerica Corporation
), where they raised their two sons, Robert (Don, Jr.) and Dean. During several years in the insurance industry as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Davis established a reputation of integrity and was asked to serve on the Local Government Study Commission (LGSC) which the Florida legislature created in 1965. Their mission was to design a consolidated city/county government; their goal was to reform Jacksonville’s corrupt, inefficient government. During this period, Davis changed careers, and was named General Manager of Deerwood Country Club
, a position he held for over 20 years. In 1978, he was named vice president of Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co.
(SWD), responsible for all Deerwood Club operations, including the sale of residences and home sites.
bought the Florida real estate holdings of SWD in 1985, Herb Peyton
offered Don Davis the position of Vice President of Corporate Relations, which he accepted. He was a Gate brother for over twenty years.
in 1987 and re-elected twice, serving 12 years, including two terms as president. Councilman Davis then ran for the State House of Representatives from district 18 in 1999 and was elected and re-elected thrice.
ordered that flags at state facilities be flown at half-staff.
His legislative seat remained unfilled until the next regular election in November, 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician. He served in many roles, from decorated war veteran to petroleum executive, board chairman, association president, Jacksonville City Council president and Florida state legislator.
Early life & Military
Don Davis was born in Okemah, OklahomaOkemah, Oklahoma
Okemah is a city in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Okfuskee County. It is the birthplace of folk music legend Woody Guthrie. Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, a federally recognized Muscogee Indian tribe, is headquartered in Okemah...
to Lucien and Lucille Davis. He grew up in Coronado, California
Coronado, California
Coronado, also known as Coronado Island, is an affluent resort city located in San Diego County, California, 5.2 miles from downtown San Diego. Its population was 24,697 at the 2010 census, up from 24,100 at the 2000 census. U.S. News and World Report lists Coronado as one of the most expensive...
and graduated from Coronado High School
Coronado High School (Coronado, California)
Coronado High School is a National Blue Ribbon high school in Coronado, California. The school was founded in 1913 and is the only high school in the Coronado Unified School District....
in 1949. He attended the University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
in California before serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
for 3 years, leaving the service as a Sergeant First Class
Sergeant First Class
Sergeant First Class is the seventh enlisted rank in the U.S. Army, above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is the first senior non-commissioned officer rank...
. He was a decorated Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
Veteran, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
, the National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
and the Korean Service Medal
Korean Service Medal
The Korean Service Medal is an award of the United States military and was created in November 1950 by executive order of President Harry Truman. The Korean Service Medal is the primary United States medal for participation in the Korean War and is awarded to any U.S. service member, who...
with 3 service star
Service star
A service star, also referred to as a battle star, campaign star, or engagement star, is an attachment to a United States military decoration which denotes participation in military campaigns or multiple bestowals of the same award. Service stars are typically issued for campaign medals, service...
s. After returning to the states, Mr. Davis married Alice Claudia Berry of Miami on December 18, 1954. He resumed his education and received a degree from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
(UCLA) in 1959.
From West Coast to East Coast
The family moved to Jacksonville, FloridaJacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
in 1960 with the Occidental Life Insurance Company (now Transamerica Corporation
Transamerica Corporation
Transamerica Corporation is a holding company for various life insurance companies and investment firms doing business primarily in the United States. It was acquired by the Dutch financial services conglomerate AEGON in 1999.-History:...
), where they raised their two sons, Robert (Don, Jr.) and Dean. During several years in the insurance industry as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Davis established a reputation of integrity and was asked to serve on the Local Government Study Commission (LGSC) which the Florida legislature created in 1965. Their mission was to design a consolidated city/county government; their goal was to reform Jacksonville’s corrupt, inefficient government. During this period, Davis changed careers, and was named General Manager of Deerwood Country Club
Deerwood Country Club
Deerwood is the oldest gated community and country club in Jacksonville, Florida. After it was established in the mid-1960s, it was the most exclusive residential area on the south side of Jacksonville and remains so today, with round-the-clock guard service at two entrances and high standards for...
, a position he held for over 20 years. In 1978, he was named vice president of Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co.
Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co.
Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co. was one of the largest mortgage banking, real estate and insurance firms in the Southeast. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, they were founded as Stockton, Whatley in the late 19th century...
(SWD), responsible for all Deerwood Club operations, including the sale of residences and home sites.
Gate
When Gate PetroleumGate Petroleum
Gate Petroleum is a privately held diversified corporation headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, the 11th largest in Florida in 2010. In FY 2008, the company ranked #338 on the Forbes list of America's Largest Private Companies...
bought the Florida real estate holdings of SWD in 1985, Herb Peyton
Herb Peyton
Herbert Hill "Herb" Peyton is an American entrepreneur and founder of Gate Petroleum in Jacksonville, Florida, which had sales of $1.44 billion in 2008...
offered Don Davis the position of Vice President of Corporate Relations, which he accepted. He was a Gate brother for over twenty years.
Politics
Don Davis was elected to the Jacksonville City CouncilJacksonville City Council
The Jacksonville City Council is the legislative governing body of the city of Jacksonville, Florida.-Composition:The Jacksonville City Council is composed of nineteen members who are elected to four-year terms and serve as part-time legislators...
in 1987 and re-elected twice, serving 12 years, including two terms as president. Councilman Davis then ran for the State House of Representatives from district 18 in 1999 and was elected and re-elected thrice.
Community Activities
Mr. Davis was an active member in many community organizations for 45 years and served on a number of boards. Among his many interests were the following:- American Cancer SocietyAmerican Cancer SocietyThe American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
, past Board of Directors - Florida TheatreFlorida TheatreThe Florida Theatre is a historic U.S. movie theater in Jacksonville, Florida. The theatre is one of only four remaining high-style movie palaces built in Florida during the Mediterranean Revival architectural boom of the 1920s .It is located at 128 through 134 East...
, Board of Directors - Jacksonville 1st Tee, Board of Directors
- Honorable Company of Red Coats, Chairman-1999-2000
- Prisoners of Christ, Board of Directors
- The Players ChampionshipThe Players ChampionshipThe Players Championship is an annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour.Originally known as the Tournament Players Championship, the inaugural event in 1974 was played at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia before moving to the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas in 1975 and Inverrary...
, Chairman 1988 - Gator Bowl Association, President 1987
- American Heart AssociationAmerican Heart AssociationThe American Heart Association is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas...
- Mandarin Rotary Club, President-1985
- Jacksonville UniversityJacksonville UniversityJacksonville University is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida, on the banks of the St. Johns River. The school was founded in 1934 as a two year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until 1958, when it shifted its focus to four-year university degrees and adopted its...
Council - Jacksonville Jaycees, past President
- Jacksonville Chamber of CommerceChamber of commerceA chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
- Florida Chamber of CommerceFlorida Chamber of CommerceThe Florida Chamber of Commerce is an organization devoted to the advocacy of private businesses in the state of Florida.This Chamber originated in 1912, and included its first continuing group in 1916, the Florida Tick Eradication Committee...
- Deerwood Country Club
- Big Brothers of Jacksonville, Board of Directors
- Boy's Clubs of Jacksonville, Board of Directors
- Northeast Florida Tennis Foundation
- United Way of Northeast Florida, Board of Directors
- Mazda Senior TPC golf tournament, Chairman-1988
- Muscular Dystrophy Association, Board of Directors
Death
In 2007, Representative Don Davis was diagnosed with Brain Cancer. He died at his home in Jacksonville, Florida on April 10, 2008 at age 76 . In his honor, Florida Governor Charlie CristCharlie Crist
Charles Joseph "Charlie" Crist, Jr. is an American politician who was the 44th Governor of Florida. Prior to his election as governor, Crist previously served as Florida State Senator, Education Commissioner, and Attorney General...
ordered that flags at state facilities be flown at half-staff.
The governor issued a statement: “It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Representative Don Davis, a great public servant. He served the people of Jacksonville as well as the people of our state with honor and dignity. He will be remembered for his efforts to raise the quality of life for our people by growing and attracting businesses to Florida.”
His legislative seat remained unfilled until the next regular election in November, 2008.