Glenn Robert Davis
Encyclopedia
Glenn Robert Davis was a member of the United States House of Representatives
for Wisconsin
's Second Congressional District from April 22, 1947 to January 3, 1957, and Wisconsin's Ninth Congressional District from January 3, 1965 to December 31, 1974.
. He excelled academically despite pressure from his father to forsake school for farming. He skipped several grades and was a teacher of the younger children in his one-room school house before graduating—three years early—from Mukwonago High School
in 1930, at age 15.
Davis attended the Platteville State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville) with a donation from his mother (who had been hiding the money from her husband for just such an occasion). He majored in education and went on to teach high school at Cottage Grove
and Waupun for five years. Davis then went back to school, earning a law degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1940.
After passing the bar, Davis opened a law firm in Waukesha, Wisconsin
. From this perch, he launched his first campaign for public office, with a successful bid for the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1940.
. Lieutenant Davis served as the Communications officer aboard the USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
, an escort carrier. The ship sustained a Kamikaze
attack the latter days of the war off of Okinawa. Although a third of the crew were casualties, Davis was uninjured.
functions. Davis was elected as a delegate to every Republican National Convention
from 1952 to 1972.
In 1947, Davis ran in the special election to succeed Robert K. Henry, a Republican congressman who died just weeks after being elected to a second term. Davis served five terms in the House of Representatives, before deciding to seek higher office in 1956. Instead of running for reelection, he launched an unsuccessful primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Alexander Wiley
, R-Wisconsin.
In 1957, Davis lobbied unsuccessfully to become the GOP candidate in the special election to replace the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy
, R-Wisconsin. The Republican nod instead went to former Gov. Walter J. Kohler, Jr.
, who went on to lose the seat to Democrat William Proxmire
. Davis subsequently returned to his law practice.
Eight years later, in 1964, Davis made a successful comeback bid by winning the open Ninth Congressional District created by reapportionment. He served another four terms before losing in the 1974 primary to a conservative up-and-comer, future U.S. Sen. Robert W. Kasten, Jr. Davis felt he was hurt by the then unpopular pardon of Richard Nixon
by then President Gerald Ford
on the Sunday before the primary election. Davis had been closely associated with Ford.
Davis's congressional service was marked by a generally conservative record that grew more moderate in the early 1970s. He achieved perhaps his greatest mark as a close friend and golf partner of then-House Minority Leader Gerald Ford
. Davis was also the star shortstop
for the "Washington Senators," a recreational baseball team made up solely of congressmen.
To this day, Davis remains the sole native of Waukesha County to have held Congressional office.
Part of Davis's legacy is the Glenn R. Davis Charitable Foundation, a scholarship organization funded and administered by his family. The Glenn Davis Charitable Foundation gives a monetary award to one graduating student in each Waukesha County high school every year. The award is granted to a student who has done something to overcome substantial obstacles, reflecting Davis's own rise from a family of pickle farmers to U.S. congressman.
His daughter Elizabeth owns and operates The Dairy Godmother
, a frozen custard shop in Alexandria, Virginia http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/4453.html.
for Wisconsin
's Second Congressional District from April 22, 1947 to January 3, 1957, and Wisconsin's Ninth Congressional District from January 3, 1965 to December 31, 1974.
. He excelled academically despite pressure from his father to forsake school for farming. He skipped several grades and was a teacher of the younger children in his one-room school house before graduating—three years early—from Mukwonago High School
in 1930, at age 15.
Davis attended the Platteville State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville) with a donation from his mother (who had been hiding the money from her husband for just such an occasion). He majored in education and went on to teach high school at Cottage Grove
and Waupun for five years. Davis then went back to school, earning a law degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1940.
After passing the bar, Davis opened a law firm in Waukesha, Wisconsin
. From this perch, he launched his first campaign for public office, with a successful bid for the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1940.
. Lieutenant Davis served as the Communications officer aboard the USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
, an escort carrier. The ship sustained a Kamikaze
attack the latter days of the war off of Okinawa. Although a third of the crew were casualties, Davis was uninjured.
functions. Davis was elected as a delegate to every Republican National Convention
from 1952 to 1972.
In 1947, Davis ran in the special election to succeed Robert K. Henry, a Republican congressman who died just weeks after being elected to a second term. Davis served five terms in the House of Representatives, before deciding to seek higher office in 1956. Instead of running for reelection, he launched an unsuccessful primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Alexander Wiley
, R-Wisconsin.
In 1957, Davis lobbied unsuccessfully to become the GOP candidate in the special election to replace the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy
, R-Wisconsin. The Republican nod instead went to former Gov. Walter J. Kohler, Jr.
, who went on to lose the seat to Democrat William Proxmire
. Davis subsequently returned to his law practice.
Eight years later, in 1964, Davis made a successful comeback bid by winning the open Ninth Congressional District created by reapportionment. He served another four terms before losing in the 1974 primary to a conservative up-and-comer, future U.S. Sen. Robert W. Kasten, Jr. Davis felt he was hurt by the then unpopular pardon of Richard Nixon
by then President Gerald Ford
on the Sunday before the primary election. Davis had been closely associated with Ford.
Davis's congressional service was marked by a generally conservative record that grew more moderate in the early 1970s. He achieved perhaps his greatest mark as a close friend and golf partner of then-House Minority Leader Gerald Ford
. Davis was also the star shortstop
for the "Washington Senators," a recreational baseball team made up solely of congressmen.
To this day, Davis remains the sole native of Waukesha County to have held Congressional office.
Part of Davis's legacy is the Glenn R. Davis Charitable Foundation, a scholarship organization funded and administered by his family. The Glenn Davis Charitable Foundation gives a monetary award to one graduating student in each Waukesha County high school every year. The award is granted to a student who has done something to overcome substantial obstacles, reflecting Davis's own rise from a family of pickle farmers to U.S. congressman.
His daughter Elizabeth owns and operates The Dairy Godmother
, a frozen custard shop in Alexandria, Virginia http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/4453.html.
for Wisconsin
's Second Congressional District from April 22, 1947 to January 3, 1957, and Wisconsin's Ninth Congressional District from January 3, 1965 to December 31, 1974.
. He excelled academically despite pressure from his father to forsake school for farming. He skipped several grades and was a teacher of the younger children in his one-room school house before graduating—three years early—from Mukwonago High School
in 1930, at age 15.
Davis attended the Platteville State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville) with a donation from his mother (who had been hiding the money from her husband for just such an occasion). He majored in education and went on to teach high school at Cottage Grove
and Waupun for five years. Davis then went back to school, earning a law degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1940.
After passing the bar, Davis opened a law firm in Waukesha, Wisconsin
. From this perch, he launched his first campaign for public office, with a successful bid for the Wisconsin State Assembly
in 1940.
. Lieutenant Davis served as the Communications officer aboard the USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
, an escort carrier. The ship sustained a Kamikaze
attack the latter days of the war off of Okinawa. Although a third of the crew were casualties, Davis was uninjured.
functions. Davis was elected as a delegate to every Republican National Convention
from 1952 to 1972.
In 1947, Davis ran in the special election to succeed Robert K. Henry, a Republican congressman who died just weeks after being elected to a second term. Davis served five terms in the House of Representatives, before deciding to seek higher office in 1956. Instead of running for reelection, he launched an unsuccessful primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Alexander Wiley
, R-Wisconsin.
In 1957, Davis lobbied unsuccessfully to become the GOP candidate in the special election to replace the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy
, R-Wisconsin. The Republican nod instead went to former Gov. Walter J. Kohler, Jr.
, who went on to lose the seat to Democrat William Proxmire
. Davis subsequently returned to his law practice.
Eight years later, in 1964, Davis made a successful comeback bid by winning the open Ninth Congressional District created by reapportionment. He served another four terms before losing in the 1974 primary to a conservative up-and-comer, future U.S. Sen. Robert W. Kasten, Jr. Davis felt he was hurt by the then unpopular pardon of Richard Nixon
by then President Gerald Ford
on the Sunday before the primary election. Davis had been closely associated with Ford.
Davis's congressional service was marked by a generally conservative record that grew more moderate in the early 1970s. He achieved perhaps his greatest mark as a close friend and golf partner of then-House Minority Leader Gerald Ford
. Davis was also the star shortstop
for the "Washington Senators," a recreational baseball team made up solely of congressmen.
To this day, Davis remains the sole native of Waukesha County to have held Congressional office.
Part of Davis's legacy is the Glenn R. Davis Charitable Foundation, a scholarship organization funded and administered by his family. The Glenn Davis Charitable Foundation gives a monetary award to one graduating student in each Waukesha County high school every year. The award is granted to a student who has done something to overcome substantial obstacles, reflecting Davis's own rise from a family of pickle farmers to U.S. congressman.
His daughter Elizabeth owns and operates The Dairy Godmother
, a frozen custard shop in Alexandria, Virginia http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/4453.html.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
's Second Congressional District from April 22, 1947 to January 3, 1957, and Wisconsin's Ninth Congressional District from January 3, 1965 to December 31, 1974.
Early life and education
Davis was born on a small farm to a poor family in Vernon, WisconsinVernon, Wisconsin
Vernon is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,227 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Vernon is located in the town.-Geography:...
. He excelled academically despite pressure from his father to forsake school for farming. He skipped several grades and was a teacher of the younger children in his one-room school house before graduating—three years early—from Mukwonago High School
Mukwonago High School
Mukwonago High School is located in Mukwonago in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. It is part of the Mukwonago Area School District. Approximately 1800 students attend the school, which has over 150 staff members.The building at 308 Washington Ave...
in 1930, at age 15.
Davis attended the Platteville State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville) with a donation from his mother (who had been hiding the money from her husband for just such an occasion). He majored in education and went on to teach high school at Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
Cottage Grove is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6,248 at the 2010 census. It is a fast growing suburb of Madison and shares a school district with Monona...
and Waupun for five years. Davis then went back to school, earning a law degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1940.
After passing the bar, Davis opened a law firm in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
. From this perch, he launched his first campaign for public office, with a successful bid for the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1940.
Military service
After a year in the legislature, Davis resigned his seat to join the U.S. Navy, after the Japanese attack on Pearl HarborPearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. Lieutenant Davis served as the Communications officer aboard the USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
USS Sangamon was an escort carrier converted from an oiler, the second ship to carry her name. She was one of 12 Cimarron class oilers built on a joint Navy-Maritime Commission design later duplicated by the T3-S2-A1 type...
, an escort carrier. The ship sustained a Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
attack the latter days of the war off of Okinawa. Although a third of the crew were casualties, Davis was uninjured.
Political career
Davis resumed the practice of law after being honorably discharged from the Navy, on December 12, 1945. He also stepped up his involvement in politics, serving briefly as a local court commissioner and attending Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
functions. Davis was elected as a delegate to every Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
from 1952 to 1972.
In 1947, Davis ran in the special election to succeed Robert K. Henry, a Republican congressman who died just weeks after being elected to a second term. Davis served five terms in the House of Representatives, before deciding to seek higher office in 1956. Instead of running for reelection, he launched an unsuccessful primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Alexander Wiley
Alexander Wiley
Alexander Wiley was a member of the Republican Party who served four terms in the United States Senate for the state of Wisconsin from 1939 to 1963. When he left the Senate, he was its most senior Republican member.-Biography:...
, R-Wisconsin.
In 1957, Davis lobbied unsuccessfully to become the GOP candidate in the special election to replace the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
, R-Wisconsin. The Republican nod instead went to former Gov. Walter J. Kohler, Jr.
Walter J. Kohler, Jr.
Walter Jodok Kohler, Jr. was the 33rd Governor of Wisconsin for three terms from 1951 to 1957 and a leading figure in state and national Republican Party activities. His role in the clash between Senator Joseph R. McCarthy and presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 has interested...
, who went on to lose the seat to Democrat William Proxmire
William Proxmire
Edward William Proxmire was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Wisconsin from 1957 to 1989.-Personal life:...
. Davis subsequently returned to his law practice.
Eight years later, in 1964, Davis made a successful comeback bid by winning the open Ninth Congressional District created by reapportionment. He served another four terms before losing in the 1974 primary to a conservative up-and-comer, future U.S. Sen. Robert W. Kasten, Jr. Davis felt he was hurt by the then unpopular pardon of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
by then President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
on the Sunday before the primary election. Davis had been closely associated with Ford.
Davis's congressional service was marked by a generally conservative record that grew more moderate in the early 1970s. He achieved perhaps his greatest mark as a close friend and golf partner of then-House Minority Leader Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
. Davis was also the star shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the "Washington Senators," a recreational baseball team made up solely of congressmen.
To this day, Davis remains the sole native of Waukesha County to have held Congressional office.
Later years
After his loss in the primary, Davis resigned on December 31, 1974—just days before his term would have otherwise ended. He moved permanently to Arlington, Virginia. Davis worked as a consultant for Potter International, Inc. from 1975 to 1983. He died in Arlington on September 21, 1988.Part of Davis's legacy is the Glenn R. Davis Charitable Foundation, a scholarship organization funded and administered by his family. The Glenn Davis Charitable Foundation gives a monetary award to one graduating student in each Waukesha County high school every year. The award is granted to a student who has done something to overcome substantial obstacles, reflecting Davis's own rise from a family of pickle farmers to U.S. congressman.
Family
Glenn Davis' son J.M. Davis is presently serving his second term as the Chief of Chief Judges of the State of Wisconsin, Chief Judge of Waukesha County, and has previously served as a Wisconsin State Senator.His daughter Elizabeth owns and operates The Dairy Godmother
The Dairy Godmother
The Dairy Godmother is a frozen custard shop located in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia. Elizabeth Davis opened the shop in June 2001.The Dairy Godmother serves vanilla and chocolate frozen custard daily as well as a daily special...
, a frozen custard shop in Alexandria, Virginia http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/4453.html.
External links
Glenn Robert Davis (October 28, 1914 – September 21, 1988) was a member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
's Second Congressional District from April 22, 1947 to January 3, 1957, and Wisconsin's Ninth Congressional District from January 3, 1965 to December 31, 1974.
Early life and education
Davis was born on a small farm to a poor family in Vernon, WisconsinVernon, Wisconsin
Vernon is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,227 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Vernon is located in the town.-Geography:...
. He excelled academically despite pressure from his father to forsake school for farming. He skipped several grades and was a teacher of the younger children in his one-room school house before graduating—three years early—from Mukwonago High School
Mukwonago High School
Mukwonago High School is located in Mukwonago in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. It is part of the Mukwonago Area School District. Approximately 1800 students attend the school, which has over 150 staff members.The building at 308 Washington Ave...
in 1930, at age 15.
Davis attended the Platteville State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville) with a donation from his mother (who had been hiding the money from her husband for just such an occasion). He majored in education and went on to teach high school at Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
Cottage Grove is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6,248 at the 2010 census. It is a fast growing suburb of Madison and shares a school district with Monona...
and Waupun for five years. Davis then went back to school, earning a law degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1940.
After passing the bar, Davis opened a law firm in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
. From this perch, he launched his first campaign for public office, with a successful bid for the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1940.
Military service
After a year in the legislature, Davis resigned his seat to join the U.S. Navy, after the Japanese attack on Pearl HarborPearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. Lieutenant Davis served as the Communications officer aboard the USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
USS Sangamon was an escort carrier converted from an oiler, the second ship to carry her name. She was one of 12 Cimarron class oilers built on a joint Navy-Maritime Commission design later duplicated by the T3-S2-A1 type...
, an escort carrier. The ship sustained a Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
attack the latter days of the war off of Okinawa. Although a third of the crew were casualties, Davis was uninjured.
Political career
Davis resumed the practice of law after being honorably discharged from the Navy, on December 12, 1945. He also stepped up his involvement in politics, serving briefly as a local court commissioner and attending Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
functions. Davis was elected as a delegate to every Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
from 1952 to 1972.
In 1947, Davis ran in the special election to succeed Robert K. Henry, a Republican congressman who died just weeks after being elected to a second term. Davis served five terms in the House of Representatives, before deciding to seek higher office in 1956. Instead of running for reelection, he launched an unsuccessful primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Alexander Wiley
Alexander Wiley
Alexander Wiley was a member of the Republican Party who served four terms in the United States Senate for the state of Wisconsin from 1939 to 1963. When he left the Senate, he was its most senior Republican member.-Biography:...
, R-Wisconsin.
In 1957, Davis lobbied unsuccessfully to become the GOP candidate in the special election to replace the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
, R-Wisconsin. The Republican nod instead went to former Gov. Walter J. Kohler, Jr.
Walter J. Kohler, Jr.
Walter Jodok Kohler, Jr. was the 33rd Governor of Wisconsin for three terms from 1951 to 1957 and a leading figure in state and national Republican Party activities. His role in the clash between Senator Joseph R. McCarthy and presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 has interested...
, who went on to lose the seat to Democrat William Proxmire
William Proxmire
Edward William Proxmire was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Wisconsin from 1957 to 1989.-Personal life:...
. Davis subsequently returned to his law practice.
Eight years later, in 1964, Davis made a successful comeback bid by winning the open Ninth Congressional District created by reapportionment. He served another four terms before losing in the 1974 primary to a conservative up-and-comer, future U.S. Sen. Robert W. Kasten, Jr. Davis felt he was hurt by the then unpopular pardon of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
by then President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
on the Sunday before the primary election. Davis had been closely associated with Ford.
Davis's congressional service was marked by a generally conservative record that grew more moderate in the early 1970s. He achieved perhaps his greatest mark as a close friend and golf partner of then-House Minority Leader Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
. Davis was also the star shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the "Washington Senators," a recreational baseball team made up solely of congressmen.
To this day, Davis remains the sole native of Waukesha County to have held Congressional office.
Later years
After his loss in the primary, Davis resigned on December 31, 1974—just days before his term would have otherwise ended. He moved permanently to Arlington, Virginia. Davis worked as a consultant for Potter International, Inc. from 1975 to 1983. He died in Arlington on September 21, 1988.Part of Davis's legacy is the Glenn R. Davis Charitable Foundation, a scholarship organization funded and administered by his family. The Glenn Davis Charitable Foundation gives a monetary award to one graduating student in each Waukesha County high school every year. The award is granted to a student who has done something to overcome substantial obstacles, reflecting Davis's own rise from a family of pickle farmers to U.S. congressman.
Family
Glenn Davis' son J.M. Davis is presently serving his second term as the Chief of Chief Judges of the State of Wisconsin, Chief Judge of Waukesha County, and has previously served as a Wisconsin State Senator.His daughter Elizabeth owns and operates The Dairy Godmother
The Dairy Godmother
The Dairy Godmother is a frozen custard shop located in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia. Elizabeth Davis opened the shop in June 2001.The Dairy Godmother serves vanilla and chocolate frozen custard daily as well as a daily special...
, a frozen custard shop in Alexandria, Virginia http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/4453.html.
External links
Glenn Robert Davis (October 28, 1914 – September 21, 1988) was a member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
's Second Congressional District from April 22, 1947 to January 3, 1957, and Wisconsin's Ninth Congressional District from January 3, 1965 to December 31, 1974.
Early life and education
Davis was born on a small farm to a poor family in Vernon, WisconsinVernon, Wisconsin
Vernon is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,227 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Vernon is located in the town.-Geography:...
. He excelled academically despite pressure from his father to forsake school for farming. He skipped several grades and was a teacher of the younger children in his one-room school house before graduating—three years early—from Mukwonago High School
Mukwonago High School
Mukwonago High School is located in Mukwonago in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. It is part of the Mukwonago Area School District. Approximately 1800 students attend the school, which has over 150 staff members.The building at 308 Washington Ave...
in 1930, at age 15.
Davis attended the Platteville State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin–Platteville) with a donation from his mother (who had been hiding the money from her husband for just such an occasion). He majored in education and went on to teach high school at Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
Cottage Grove is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6,248 at the 2010 census. It is a fast growing suburb of Madison and shares a school district with Monona...
and Waupun for five years. Davis then went back to school, earning a law degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1940.
After passing the bar, Davis opened a law firm in Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
. From this perch, he launched his first campaign for public office, with a successful bid for the Wisconsin State Assembly
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin....
in 1940.
Military service
After a year in the legislature, Davis resigned his seat to join the U.S. Navy, after the Japanese attack on Pearl HarborPearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. Lieutenant Davis served as the Communications officer aboard the USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
USS Sangamon (CVE-26)
USS Sangamon was an escort carrier converted from an oiler, the second ship to carry her name. She was one of 12 Cimarron class oilers built on a joint Navy-Maritime Commission design later duplicated by the T3-S2-A1 type...
, an escort carrier. The ship sustained a Kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
attack the latter days of the war off of Okinawa. Although a third of the crew were casualties, Davis was uninjured.
Political career
Davis resumed the practice of law after being honorably discharged from the Navy, on December 12, 1945. He also stepped up his involvement in politics, serving briefly as a local court commissioner and attending Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
functions. Davis was elected as a delegate to every Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
from 1952 to 1972.
In 1947, Davis ran in the special election to succeed Robert K. Henry, a Republican congressman who died just weeks after being elected to a second term. Davis served five terms in the House of Representatives, before deciding to seek higher office in 1956. Instead of running for reelection, he launched an unsuccessful primary challenge to incumbent Sen. Alexander Wiley
Alexander Wiley
Alexander Wiley was a member of the Republican Party who served four terms in the United States Senate for the state of Wisconsin from 1939 to 1963. When he left the Senate, he was its most senior Republican member.-Biography:...
, R-Wisconsin.
In 1957, Davis lobbied unsuccessfully to become the GOP candidate in the special election to replace the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
, R-Wisconsin. The Republican nod instead went to former Gov. Walter J. Kohler, Jr.
Walter J. Kohler, Jr.
Walter Jodok Kohler, Jr. was the 33rd Governor of Wisconsin for three terms from 1951 to 1957 and a leading figure in state and national Republican Party activities. His role in the clash between Senator Joseph R. McCarthy and presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952 has interested...
, who went on to lose the seat to Democrat William Proxmire
William Proxmire
Edward William Proxmire was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Wisconsin from 1957 to 1989.-Personal life:...
. Davis subsequently returned to his law practice.
Eight years later, in 1964, Davis made a successful comeback bid by winning the open Ninth Congressional District created by reapportionment. He served another four terms before losing in the 1974 primary to a conservative up-and-comer, future U.S. Sen. Robert W. Kasten, Jr. Davis felt he was hurt by the then unpopular pardon of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
by then President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
on the Sunday before the primary election. Davis had been closely associated with Ford.
Davis's congressional service was marked by a generally conservative record that grew more moderate in the early 1970s. He achieved perhaps his greatest mark as a close friend and golf partner of then-House Minority Leader Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
. Davis was also the star shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the "Washington Senators," a recreational baseball team made up solely of congressmen.
To this day, Davis remains the sole native of Waukesha County to have held Congressional office.
Later years
After his loss in the primary, Davis resigned on December 31, 1974—just days before his term would have otherwise ended. He moved permanently to Arlington, Virginia. Davis worked as a consultant for Potter International, Inc. from 1975 to 1983. He died in Arlington on September 21, 1988.Part of Davis's legacy is the Glenn R. Davis Charitable Foundation, a scholarship organization funded and administered by his family. The Glenn Davis Charitable Foundation gives a monetary award to one graduating student in each Waukesha County high school every year. The award is granted to a student who has done something to overcome substantial obstacles, reflecting Davis's own rise from a family of pickle farmers to U.S. congressman.
Family
Glenn Davis' son J.M. Davis is presently serving his second term as the Chief of Chief Judges of the State of Wisconsin, Chief Judge of Waukesha County, and has previously served as a Wisconsin State Senator.His daughter Elizabeth owns and operates The Dairy Godmother
The Dairy Godmother
The Dairy Godmother is a frozen custard shop located in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia. Elizabeth Davis opened the shop in June 2001.The Dairy Godmother serves vanilla and chocolate frozen custard daily as well as a daily special...
, a frozen custard shop in Alexandria, Virginia http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/4453.html.