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Glenn Robert DavisAmerican Congressman
Date of Birth: 28.10.1914
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Glenn Robert Davis
Glenn Robert Davis was an American congressman who served in the United States House of Representatives from April 22, 1947, to January 3, 1957, representing the second congressional district of Wisconsin, and from January 3, 1965, to December 31, 1974, representing the ninth congressional district of Wisconsin.
Early Life and Education
Glenn Robert Davis was born on October 28, 1914, on a small farm in Vernon, Wisconsin, to a poor family. Despite pressure from his father to quit school and work on the farm, Davis demonstrated excellent academic performance. He skipped several grades and became a teacher for younger children in his hometown's one-room schoolhouse. He graduated from Mukwonago High School in 1930 at the age of 15, three years earlier than usual for graduates. Davis attended the State Teachers College in Platteville (now part of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville) using the money his mother had saved secretly from his father. He specialized in education and continued to teach in middle schools in Cottage Grove and Waukesha, Wisconsin, for five years after graduation. In 1940, Davis received a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He opened his own law firm in Wisconsin and began his first political campaign for a state office, successfully winning a seat in the State Assembly in 1940. After a year in the state legislature, Davis resigned to join the U.S. Navy after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He served as a communications officer aboard the escort aircraft carrier USS Sangamon (CVE-26) during World War II. The ship was attacked by kamikaze near Okinawa in the final days of the war, and although a third of the crew perished, Davis was not injured. He was demobilized on December 12, 1945, and returned to his legal practice while actively participating in local politics. Davis served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention for 20 years, from 1952 to 1972.
Congressional Career
In 1947, Davis participated in a special election following the death of Republican Congressman Robert K. Henry, who had died shortly after being reelected for a second term. Davis served five two-year terms in the House of Representatives and decided to seek higher office in 1956. Instead of seeking reelection, he ran in the primary elections to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Alexander Wiley. However, his campaign was unsuccessful. The following year, Davis unsuccessfully sought to become a candidate in a special election following the death of Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy, losing to former Governor Walter J. Kohler Jr. He then returned to his legal practice. It was only eight years later when Davis successfully returned to Congress after winning in the newly redrawn ninth congressional district. He was reelected four more times before losing in the 1974 primary elections to future Senator Robert Kasten Jr. Davis's popularity was negatively affected by his close ties to the 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford, who pardoned his predecessor Richard Nixon for all crimes committed during his presidency. This decision caused confusion and outrage among Americans and led to a decline in popularity for the Republican Party as a whole. Davis was a close friend of Ford and his golfing partner.
Later Life and Legacy
After losing the primary elections, Davis resigned on December 31, 1974, a few days before the end of his term. He moved to Arlington, Virginia, where he worked as a consultant for Potter International, Inc. from 1975 to 1983. Glenn Robert Davis passed away on September 21, 1988, in Arlington. Part of his legacy went towards establishing the Glenn Robert Davis Charitable Fund, which was founded and is managed by members of his family. This charitable fund annually awards a monetary prize to a graduate from Waukesha County who has overcome adverse circumstances, just as Davis did as a boy from a poor farming family who became a U.S. congressman.
