Frank H. Davis
BornJune 13, 1910
New York City
DiedApril 2, 1979(1979-04-02) (aged 68)
Burlington
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)businessman
public official
Spouses
Katharine Simmons
​
​
(m. 1931; div. 1938)​
    Virginia Hewitt
    ​
    (m. 1942)​
    Children6
    Parents
    • Frank Hamilton Davis (father)
    • Elizabeth Wilson Clark (mother)
    RelativesFrank 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

    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

    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

    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

    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

    After leaving office, Davis lived in retirement in Burlington. He died in Burlington on April 2, 1979; his remains were cremated.[5]

    References

    1. ↑ Vermont Legislative Directory. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Secretary of State. 1973. p. 461.
    2. ↑ Frank Hamilton Davis at Find A Grave
    3. ↑ "Mistakes Arsenic For His Medicine, Dies". The Evening News. Harrisburg, PA. New York World News Service. March 9, 1926. p. 18.
    4. ↑ Elizabeth Wilson Davis at Find A Grave
    5. 1 2 "Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, entry for Frank H. Davis". Ancestry.com. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. April 2, 1979.
    6. ↑ Secretary's Report, Class of 1907. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University. 1926. p. 175.
    7. ↑ "Miss Katherine Simmons to Wed Frank Hamilton Davis". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY. June 1, 1931. p. 7.
    8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vermont Legislative Directory
    9. ↑ "Burlington Legislator Seeks GOP Nod for Treasurer". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. January 25, 1968. p. 8.
    10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "25 Jan 1968, Page 8 - Bennington Banner at Newspapers.com". newspapers.com.
    11. ↑ "Goldwater Unit Organizes Vermont Counties, Towns". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. October 17, 1964. p. 2.
    12. ↑ "Republicans Sweep Vermont". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. United Press International. November 6, 1968. p. 1.
    13. ↑ "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.
    14. ↑ Norris, Floyd H. (January 10, 1975). "Burns, Diamond, Hackel, Acebo: 'Plurality" Candidates Win Big". Bennington Banner. Bennington, VT. United Press International. p. 1.
    15. ↑ "Weddings". The Evening Journal. Wilmington, DE. June 1, 1931. p. 7.
    16. ↑ "Decrees Granted". Reno Evening Gazette. Reno, NV. June 3, 1928. p. 16.
    17. ↑ "Obituary, Frank Hamilton Davis Jr". Grosse Pointe News. Grosse Point, MI. June 15, 2012.
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