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William E. Davis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the American judge, see W. Eugene Davis.

William E. Davis
Biographical details
Born(1929-02-15)February 15, 1929
Wamego, Kansas, U.S.
DiedSeptember 24, 2021(2021-09-24) (aged 92)
Albuquerque, U.S.
Playing career
1950Colorado
Position(s)Halfback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1962Colorado (interim HC)
Head coaching record
Overall2–8

William Eugene "Bud" Davis (February 15, 1929 – September 24, 2021)[1][2] was an American university president, Democratic politician, and football coach. He was an interim head football coach for the Colorado Buffaloes for the 1962 season. He was later the President of Idaho State University and the University of New Mexico,[3] and Chancellor of the Oregon University System and Louisiana State University.

Davis is best known in Colorado for writing the book Glory Colorado! A history of the University of Colorado, 1858-1963, which was also his doctoral thesis and nearly 800 pages as a publication. As a sitting university president, he ran for the U.S. Senate in Idaho in 1972.[4]

Early career

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Davis graduated from Loveland High School in 1947 and enrolled at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) to stay close to home and near his high school sweetheart, Pollyanne Peterson. As a freshman, he declared he wanted "to be the world's greatest football coach"[5] and chose a physical education major and English minor. He was a reserve football player on the varsity team. After graduating in 1951, he remained at the University as assistant to the dean of men. He resigned the position to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps.[5] The spring of his senior year he married Peterson.

In 1960, Davis completed his master's degree in education administration at the Colorado State College of Education in Greeley and became CU's alumni director while working on his doctoral degree in education.[6] After Sonny Grandelius left Colorado with NCAA sanctions, Davis was hired to be the football team's interim head coach on March 27, 1962.[7][8][9][10] He had no collegiate coaching experience, just five years as a high school head coach.[8][9]

The Buffaloes had just one win entering the finale at home on November 24, but pulled off an inspired 34–10 upset of heavily-favored Air Force at Folsom Field to finish at 2–8, the worst record in the program's 72-year history.[10][11][12][13] The eight-month Bud Davis era at Boulder ended that day with his post-game resignation.[12] In early 1963, Oklahoma assistant Eddie Crowder was hired on January 2,[10][14][15] awarded a five-year contract at $15,000 per year.[14]

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Colorado Buffaloes (Big Eight Conference) (1962)
1962 Colorado 2–8 1–6 7th
Colorado: 2–8 1–6
Total: 2–8

Glory Colorado!

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While working on his doctoral degree and coaching the football team Davis was writing his thesis. He received special permission from the doctoral thesis committee to bypass the standard format and write the historical narrative book about the history of the University of Colorado at Boulder until that point.[5] The name was chosen because the school song of the same name, which is set to the music of "Battle Hymn of the Republic", which he felt captured the school's spirit.[5] He acquired the bulk of information for the book from student-published and local city newspapers. It was published in 1965 by Fred Pruitt, founder of Pruitt Press Inc. and also a journalism professor, who offered to print it at no cost. The book has been called the "primary historical reference for the University".[5] The book, no longer in print, was sold canvas-bound for $8. An index to supplement the text was later published and distributed by the Associated Alumni.

Career

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After receiving his doctoral degree in 1963, Davis left CU to become executive assistant to the president for student affairs at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

In 1972, while president at Idaho State in Pocatello, Davis won the Democratic nomination for the open U.S. Senate seat in Idaho.[16][17] He was defeated in the general election by Republican Congressman Jim McClure.[18][19] McClure garnered 52.26% of the vote, followed by Davis with 45.52%, and a third-party candidate with 2.22%.[20]

Further information: 1972 United States Senate election in Idaho

Davis was the President of Idaho State University (1965–1975) and University of New Mexico (1975–1982),[3][21] Chancellor of the Oregon University System (1982–1989) and Louisiana State University (1989–1996).

Davis published other works, including Miracle on the Mesa / A History of the University of New Mexico, 1889–2003.[22] He served on the board of directors for Sunrise Bank of Albuquerque starting in 2005.[23]

Later life

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Davis was commissioned by CU to write Volume 2 of Glory Colorado! (ISBN 978-0870818936) in 1999. It covered the period from 1963 (the end of the first book) to 2000. Davis authored the book pro bono, writing a majority of it in the summer of 1999 while on break from Louisiana State University. It was published in 2007.

Davis died in 2021.[24] He had been married to Pollyanne Peterson, who died in 2020; they had four daughters and one son.

Awards and honors

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Universities perform miracles. They change lives. The University of Colorado made it possible for me to have a life of wild adventure.

William E. Davis[5]

  • George Norlin Award, for distinguished service (1975)
  • University of Colorado Alumnus of the Century Award (1977)
  • CU Athletic Hall of Honor Award (1980)
  • Davis Field, named in his honor
    • Outdoor venue for track & field and soccer on the Idaho State University campus in Pocatello; formerly the "Spud Bowl" (42°51′32″N 112°25′52″W / 42.859°N 112.431°W / 42.859; -112.431)[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Former UNM President William "Bud" Davis dies".
  2. ^ Davis, William E. (William Eugene), 1929- entry at Library of Congress
  3. ^ a b Stahlberg, Mark (March 13, 1982). "Davis accepts state chancellor's job". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 1A.
  4. ^ Corlett, John (December 5, 1971). "Bud Davis picking up key supporters". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). (editorial). p. 4.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Allison Groff (July 29, 1999). "Alum Bud Davis takes on Glory Colorado! Vol. 2". CU.edu. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  6. ^ "CU Distinguished Alumni by Category". Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  7. ^ "Alumni leader new Colorado football coach". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 28, 1962. p. 8.
  8. ^ a b "Davis named grid coach at Colorado". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 28, 1962. p. 2B.
  9. ^ a b Meakins, Gene (March 28, 1962). "Colorado coach seeks team support". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. p. B7.
  10. ^ a b c "Colorado Football Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  11. ^ "Colorado stuns Air Force, 34-10". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. November 25, 1962. p. 9.
  12. ^ a b "Davis resignation told following win". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 25, 1962. p. 6B.
  13. ^ "Plati-'tudes". CUBuffs.com. September 18, 2003. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  14. ^ a b "Crowder signs 5-year Colorado U. grid pact". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. January 2, 1963. p. 6B.
  15. ^ "Crowder names 3 assistants". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. January 4, 1963. p. B7.
  16. ^ "McClure, Davis are rival Senate nominees". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. August 9, 1972. p. 1.
  17. ^ "Bud Davis for Senate". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). advertisement. November 5, 1972. p. 2.
  18. ^ "Ref Notes Data". University of Toronto Data Library Service. July 10, 2001. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  19. ^ "Congressional winners heading to D.C. soon". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 9, 1972. p. 1.
  20. ^ "Office of the Clerk: Election statistics". United States House of Representatives. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  21. ^ "Former Idaho State president accepts job in Oregon system". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 14, 1982. p. 4B.
  22. ^ "UNMPress Spring 06 Calatlog" (PDF). UNMPress.com. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  23. ^ Steven A. Marcum (2005). "2005 Annual Report" (PDF). CapitalBanCorp.com. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
  24. ^ "William 'Bud' Davis, former university leader, dies at 92". Times-News. Twin Falls, Idaho. AP. October 14, 2021. p. A4. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Davis Field". Idaho State University athletics. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
Academic offices
Preceded by President of Idaho State University
1965–1975 		Succeeded by
Preceded by President of University of New Mexico
1975–1982 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chancellor of Louisiana State University
1989–1996 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic Party nominee, United States Senator (Class 2) from Idaho
1972 (lost) 		Succeeded by
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