Will Davis Sr., BBA '54, LLB '54
- Pro Texana Medal of Service
Living and working most of his life in the capital of Texas, Will D. Davis has been a servant leader and an agent of change—committing his life to excellence in education and in the work of the Texas insurance profession. We honor his significant contributions through the presentation of the Pro Texana Medal of Service.
An Austin native and standout high school football player for Austin High, Will Davis (BBA ’54, LLB ’54) was always an athlete. He attended Baylor on a football scholarship and played running back for the Bears, competing in the Orange Bowl against Georgia Tech in January 1952.
Davis accomplished much during his four years at Baylor, earning degrees in business and law. He was chairman of the Southwest Conference Sportsmanship Committee and editor of the the Baylor Law Review.
He was instrumental in developing Baylor’s student government structure and served as the first student body president. He went on to serve as chairman of the Texas Democratic Party from 1965-68 and was a delegate to several state and national political conventions.
Raised as an only child by his single mother, a schoolteacher, Davis has valued education for as long as he can remember and has been an active leader in public education at all levels.
He was elected and served as a member and vice chairman of the Texas State Board of Education, as a member and president of the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees and as a member of the Texas Coordinating Board of the Texas College and University System. He has served as president of the Texas Association of School Boards and of the National School Boards Association.
Davis was co-chair of the National Citizens Committee, which led to the establishment of the U.S. Department of Education. He helped to found Austin Community College and was the first president of its Board of Trustees. He served as a Baylor Trustee from 1972-1982 and on Baylor’s Board of Regents from 1998-2007, during which he was elected Board Chairman two consecutive terms.
During his 50-plus years as a leading legal representative in the world of insurance, Davis worked with major companies, including AIG, American National, USAA and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas. He served as general counsel for the Texas Department of Insurance and as an assistant attorney general of Texas and founded the Heath, Davis & McCalla law firm.
Davis has made Baylor part of his family legacy and has generously supported Baylor Law School, Student Foundation and Baylor Athletics. He and his late wife, Ann (’52), have three children: Lisa Davis, Lynn Walker (BS ’82) and Dr. Will Davis Jr. (BA ’84); nine grandchildren (four of whom are Baylor grads), and two great grandchildren.
