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John William Davis (Georgia politician)
Encyclopedia
John William Davis was an American
politician and lawyer.
, Georgia
, attended the University of Georgia
(UGA) in Athens
and graduated in 1937 with an A.B.
and from the UGA School of Law
with a Bachelor of Laws
(LL.B.) in 1939. He was admitted to the state bar in 1939 and began practice in Rome.
until December 1945. He then served in South America
on behalf of the Counter Intelligence Corps
. In 1946, Davis moved to Summerville, Georgia
, and resumed practicing law.
of the Rome Circuit and remained in that position until January 1, 1953. Two years later, he was elected judge of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, serving from January 1, 1955, until his resignation on December 31, 1960.
as a Democrat
representing Georgia's 7th congressional district
. He won re-election to six additional terms in that body until losing his 1974 re-election bid in that year's Democratic primary to conservative activist Larry McDonald
. Davis served as a U.S. Representative from January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1975.
Davis' loss to McDonald in 1974 was attributed largely to the fact that he supported, or at least did not oppose, the concept of school busing, in which students were bused to schools outside of their district to facilitate desegregation
. Davis, who resided in the more rural part of his northwest Georgia
district, did not take into account the increasing political force of the northwest suburbs of Atlanta. Many of these residents in the fast-growing bedroom communities in Cobb County
were fleeing the city to avoid mandatory desegregation, and it was mainly this constituency that got behind McDonald, who made opposition to busing a central part of his platform.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and lawyer.
Early life and education
Davis was born near RomeRome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, attended the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(UGA) in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
and graduated in 1937 with an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and from the UGA School of Law
University of Georgia School of Law
The University of Georgia School of Law is a graduate school of the University of Georgia. Founded in 1859 and located in Athens, Georgia, USA, Georgia Law was formerly known as the Lumpkin School of Law. The Law School is the second oldest of the University's schools and colleges. The University...
with a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(LL.B.) in 1939. He was admitted to the state bar in 1939 and began practice in Rome.
WWII
Beginning in July 1942, Davis served in the United States War Department HeadquartersUnited States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
until December 1945. He then served in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
on behalf of the Counter Intelligence Corps
Counter Intelligence Corps
The Counter Intelligence Corps was a World War II and early Cold War intelligence agency within the United States Army. Its role was taken over by the U.S. Army Intelligence Corps in 1961 and, in 1967, by the U.S. Army Intelligence Agency...
. In 1946, Davis moved to Summerville, Georgia
Summerville, Georgia
Summerville is a city in Chattooga County, Georgia, United States. The population was 4,556 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Chattooga County.- Geography :Summerville is located at ....
, and resumed practicing law.
Political career
On December 27, 1950, Davis became solicitor generalState's Attorney
In the United States, the State's Attorney is, most commonly, an elected official who represents the State in criminal prosecutions and is often the chief law enforcement officer of their respective county, circuit...
of the Rome Circuit and remained in that position until January 1, 1953. Two years later, he was elected judge of the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, serving from January 1, 1955, until his resignation on December 31, 1960.
Time in Congress
In 1960, Davis won election to the 87th Congress87th United States Congress
-House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Richard Nixon , until January 20, 1961** Lyndon Johnson , from January 20, 1961* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden -House of Representatives:...
as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
representing Georgia's 7th congressional district
Georgia's 7th congressional district
Georgia's 7th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Georgia. The district includes all of Barrow and Walton counties and portions of Forsyth, Gwinnett, and Newton counties....
. He won re-election to six additional terms in that body until losing his 1974 re-election bid in that year's Democratic primary to conservative activist Larry McDonald
Larry McDonald
Lawrence Patton McDonald, M.D. was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the seventh congressional district of Georgia as a Democrat...
. Davis served as a U.S. Representative from January 3, 1961 to January 3, 1975.
Davis' loss to McDonald in 1974 was attributed largely to the fact that he supported, or at least did not oppose, the concept of school busing, in which students were bused to schools outside of their district to facilitate desegregation
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
. Davis, who resided in the more rural part of his northwest Georgia
Northwest Georgia
Northwest Georgia includes the counties of:*Dade County*Walker County*Catoosa County*Whitfield County*Murray County*Gordon County*Chattooga County*Floyd County*Bartow County*Paulding County*Polk County*Haralson County...
district, did not take into account the increasing political force of the northwest suburbs of Atlanta. Many of these residents in the fast-growing bedroom communities in Cobb County
Cobb County, Georgia
Cobb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat and largest city is Marietta, which is located in the center of the county. The county was named for Thomas Willis Cobb, who in the early 19th century was a United States representative and senator from Georgia...
were fleeing the city to avoid mandatory desegregation, and it was mainly this constituency that got behind McDonald, who made opposition to busing a central part of his platform.