Frank H. Davis
Frank H. Davis | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 13, 1910 |
| Died | April 2, 1979 (aged 68) Burlington |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | businessman public official |
| Spouses | Katharine Simmons
(m. 1931; div. 1938)Virginia Hewitt (m. 1942) |
| Children | 6 |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Frank Hastings Hamilton (great-grandfather) |
Frank H. Davis (June 13, 1910 – April 2, 1979) was an American businessman and public official. He was notable for his service as Vermont State Treasurer for three terms.
Biography
[edit]Frank Hamilton Davis was born in New York City on June 13, 1910,[1] the son of Frank Hamilton Davis (1883-1926)[2][3] and Elizabeth Wilson Clark (1883-1957).[4][5] His parents divorced in 1917,[6] and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, Walter Guest Kellogg.[7] Davis attended the public schools of New York City and St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire.[8]
Davis began a career in finance, and he soon purchased a seat on the New York Stock Exchange as a representative of the Carlisle & Jacquelin firm.[9]
World War II
[edit]In 1942 Davis sold his seat on the stock exchange and joined the United States Coast Guard Reserve for World War II.[10] He served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, received a commission, and was discharged at the end of the war with the rank of lieutenant.[10]
Move to Vermont
[edit]Davis moved to Vermont after the war.[8] He became active in several business ventures in Burlington, including the state's first self-service, coin-operated laundromat.[10] He was also an account executive in the financial services industry, first with F. I. DuPont, and later with the W. E. Hutton firm.[8] He was active in civic affairs, including service as chairman of the Burlington Housing Authority.[10] Davis attended Burlington's Church Street Congregational Church, and served as a deacon.[10]
A Republican, he served on the Burlington and Chittenden County Republican committees, and was treasurer of the Burlington Republican Party.[10] He also attended numerous local, state and national conventions, and was active in Barry Goldwater’s 1964 campaign for president.[10][11] Davis served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1966 to 1969.[8] In 1968 he won election as state Treasurer.[12] He was reelected twice, and served from 1969 to 1975; he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1974. In the 1974 contest, Democrat Stella Hackel received 66,553 votes (49.68%), Davis received 61,181 (45.67%), and Liberty Union Party candidate Ron MacNeil had 6,229 (4.65%).[13] Because no candidate won a majority of the popular votes, as required by the Vermont Constitution, the election was decided by the Vermont General Assembly. The legislature almost always selects the candidate who received a plurality in the general election, which they did in this contest by voting for Hackel over Davis, 164 to 16.[14]
Family
[edit]In 1931, Davis married Katharine Simmons.[15] They were the parents of two children, and divorced in 1938.[16]
Davis married Virginia Hewitt in 1942.[8] They were the parents of four children.[8][17]
Davis was the great-grandson of Frank Hastings Hamilton.[10]
Retirement and death
[edit]After leaving office, Davis lived in retirement in Burlington. He died in Burlington on April 2, 1979; his remains were cremated.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Vermont Legislative Directory. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. 1973. p. 461.
- ^ Frank Hamilton Davis at Find A Grave
- ^ "Mistakes Arsenic For His Medicine, Dies". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA. New York World News Service. March 9, 1926. p. 18.
- ^ Elizabeth Wilson Davis at Find A Grave
- ^ a b "Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, entry for Frank H. Davis". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. April 2, 1979.
- ^ Secretary's Report, Class of 1907. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. 1926. p. 175.
- ^ "Miss Katherine Simmons to Wed Frank Hamilton Davis". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY. June 1, 1931. p. 7.
- ^ a b c d e f Vermont Legislative Directory
- ^ "Burlington Legislator Seeks GOP Nod for Treasurer". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. January 25, 1968. p. 8.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "25 Jan 1968, Page 8 - Bennington Banner at Newspapers.com". newspapers.com.
- ^ "Goldwater Unit Organizes Vermont Counties, Towns". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. October 17, 1964. p. 2.
- ^ "Republicans Sweep Vermont". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. United Press International. November 6, 1968. p. 1.
- ^ "Vermont Election Results, 1974: Lieutenant Governor, Treasurer, Auditor of Accounts, Attorney General" (PDF). www.sec.state.vt.us/. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. Vermont State Archives. June 9, 2006. pp. 1–2.
- ^ Norris, Floyd H. (January 10, 1975). "Burns, Diamond, Hackel, Acebo: 'Plurality" Candidates Win Big". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. United Press International. p. 1.
- ^ "Weddings". The Evening Journal. Wilmington, DE. June 1, 1931. p. 7.
- ^ "Decrees Granted". Reno Evening Gazette. Reno, NV. June 3, 1928. p. 16.
- ^ "Obituary, Frank Hamilton Davis Jr". Grosse Pointe News. Grosse Point, MI. June 15, 2012.
- 1910 births
- 1979 deaths
- Businesspeople from Vermont
- Businesspeople from New York City
- Politicians from New York City
- Military personnel from New York City
- New York Stock Exchange people
- St. Paul's School (New Hampshire) alumni
- United States Coast Guard officers
- United States Coast Guard personnel of World War II
- Politicians from Burlington, Vermont
- Republican Party members of the Vermont House of Representatives
- State treasurers of Vermont
- 20th-century members of the Vermont General Assembly