A decorated World War II lieutenant and politician who served in the US House of Representatives, known for his advocacy on veterans' issues and education reform.
Glenn Robert Davis, a member of the United States House of Representatives, served two terms representing Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district from 1947 to 1957 and Wisconsin's 9th congressional district from 1965 to 1974. Throughout his political career, Davis demonstrated a strong commitment to public service, education, and the law.
Davis was born on a small farm in Vernon, Wisconsin, on October 28, 1914, to a poor family. Despite the pressure from his father to forsake school for farming, Davis excelled academically and skipped several grades. He was a teacher to the younger children in his one-room school house before graduating three years early from Mukwonago High School in 1930 at the age of 15.
Davis attended the Platteville State Teachers College (now the University of Wisconsin-Platteville) with a donation from his mother, who had been hiding the money from her husband for just such an occasion. He majored in education and went on to teach high school at Cottage Grove and Waupun for five years. Davis then went back to school, earning a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1940.
After a year in the legislature, Davis resigned his seat to join the U.S. Navy, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Lieutenant Davis served as the Communications officer aboard the USS Sangamon CVE-26, an escort carrier. The ship sustained a kamikaze attack in the latter days of the war off of Okinawa, which Davis survived.
Davis resumed the practice of law after being honorably discharged from the Navy, on December 12, 1945. He also stepped up his involvement in politics, serving briefly as a local court commissioner and attending Republican Party functions. Davis went on to represent Wisconsin's 2nd congressional district from April 22, 1947, to January 3, 1957, and Wisconsin's 9th congressional district from January 3, 1965, to December 31, 1974.
Glenn Robert Davis' commitment to public service, education, and the law has left a lasting impact on the state of Wisconsin. Through his political career, Davis demonstrated a strong sense of duty and responsibility, serving his country and constituents with integrity and dedication.
Davis' political career spanned a significant period in American history, from the post-World War II era to the late 1970s. His service in the U.S. Navy and subsequent political career can be compared to other notable politicians of the time, such as John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, who also served in the military before entering politics.
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Born in 1913
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Born in 1924
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