{{short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}} {{Infobox officeholder |image = Deane C. Davis (VT).png |caption = Davis as Governor |order = 74th |office = Governor of Vermont |term_start = January 9, 1969 |term_end = January 4, 1973 |lieutenant = Thomas L. Hayes<br>John S. Burgess |predecessor = Philip H. Hoff |successor = Thomas P. Salmon |office2 = President of the Vermont Bar Association |term_start2 = October 7, 1942 |term_end2 = October 6, 1943 |predecessor2 = Joseph A. McNamara |successor2 = Frank E. Barber |office3 = President of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce |term_start3 = June 11, 1942 |term_end3 = August 6, 1943 |predecessor3 = Albert A. Cree |successor3 = Harold P. Parker |office4 = Judge of the Vermont Superior Court |term_start4 = October 9, 1931 |term_end4 = January 21, 1936 |predecessor4 = Warner A. Graham |successor4 = Charles A. Shields |office5 = State's Attorney of Washington County, Vermont |term_start5 = February 1, 1927 |term_end5 = March 7, 1928 |predecessor5 = Charles Bayley Adams |successor5 = Edwin L. Scott |birth_name = Deane Chandler Davis |birth_date = {{birth date|1900|11|7|mf=y}} |birth_place = East Barre, Vermont, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|1990|12|08|1900|11|07}} |death_place = Berlin, Vermont, U.S. |alma_mater = Boston University <small>(LL.B.)</small> |spouse = {{plainlist| * {{Marriage|Corinne Eastman|1924|1951|end=her death}} * {{Marriage|Marjorie Smith Conzelman|1952}} }} |children = 3 |profession = Lawyer |party = Republican }} '''Deane Chandler Davis''' (November 7, 1900{{spaced ndash}}December 8, 1990) was an American attorney and insurance executive from Vermont. Long active in Republican politics, he is most notable for his service as the 74th governor of Vermont from 1969 to 1973.
==Early life== Deane Davis was born in East Barre, Vermont, on November 7, 1900, the son of Earle Russell Davis and Lois Salome Hillery.<ref name="Marquis">{{cite book |date=1959 |title=Who's Who in Commerce and Industry |volume=11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I-YdAQAAIAAJ&q=%22davis%2C+deane+chandler%22 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=Marquis Who's Who |page=294 }}</ref> Earle Davis was an attorney who served as state's attorney for Washington County and county probate judge.<ref name="WGBH">{{cite web |url=https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_211-63fxq2hd |title=Legendary: Interview with Former Governor Deane Davis on His Early Years, Part 1 of 2 |last=American Archive of Public Broadcasting |date=November 25, 1978 |website=American Archive.org |publisher=WGBH (FM) |location=Boston, MA}}</ref>
The younger Davis attended the schools of Barre, and graduated from Spaulding High School in 1918.<ref name="WGBH"/> As Davis related in a 1978 interview, he intended to begin college after high school, but became ill during that year's influenza pandemic and did not recover until September.<ref name="WGBH"/> In searching for a university in which he could enroll after recovering, Davis sought one that had a World War I-era Student Army Training Corps program that would enable him to pay for his expenses.<ref name="WGBH"/> He discovered that the only place on the east coast that met this requirement was Boston University School of Law, which required two years of liberal arts education.<ref name="WGBH"/> The dean of the law school agreed to enroll Davis provided that he simultaneously complete the liberal arts requirements.<ref name="WGBH"/> He studied at the law school while participating in the SATC program,<ref name="WGBH"/> received his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1922, and became a lawyer in Barre.<ref>Vermont Legislative Directory, by Vermont Secretary of State, 1971, page 555</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 21, 1931 |title=From Boston Bootblack to Vermont Judge, Davis' Story |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-bootblack/139265219/ |work=The Boston Globe |location=Boston, MA |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>Cyclopedia of Insurance in the United States, 1958, page 875</ref><ref>The Blue Book: Leaders of the English-Speaking World, Thomson Gale, 1973, page 347</ref>
==Career== A Republican, Davis served in local offices including member of the city council and city attorney. From 1927 to 1928 he was Washington County State's Attorney.<ref>The International Who's Who, 1974-75, Europa Publications Limited, 1974, page 395</ref> From 1931 to 1936 Davis was a judge of the Vermont Superior Court, having been appointed to fill the vacancy created when Warner A. Graham was appointed to the Vermont Supreme Court.<ref>The Vermont Bar Journal, by Vermont Bar Association, Volume 28, 2002, page 14</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=October 9, 1931 |title=Deane C. Davis Named by Wilson Superior Judge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/197373426/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |page=2 |ref={{sfnRef|"Deane C. Davis Named by Wilson Superior Judge"}}}}</ref> As a leader of the party, Davis also attended numerous state and national conventions as a delegate, including the 1948 Republican National Convention.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Vermont Press Bureau |date=May 17, 1948 |title=Former Governor Proctor Heads Vermont Delegation to National GOP Convention |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/77144292/the-burlington-free-press/ |work=The Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
In the 1930s Davis practiced law in partnership with Stanley C. Wilson, F. Ray Keyser Sr., and J. Ward Carver.<ref name="WGBH"/> Their firm was described as Vermont's "best ever collection of legal talent," in that it included one future Vermont Supreme Court justice (Keyser), one past and one future governor (Wilson and Davis), and one past Vermont Attorney General (Carver).<ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary, F. Ray Keyser, Sr. |work=The Herald of Randolph (Randolph, VT) |date=March 15, 2001 |url=http://www.ourherald.com/news/2001-03-15/Obituaries/o01.html}}</ref>
In 1940 Davis left private practice to become general counsel for the National Life Insurance Company.<ref name="WGBH"/> From 1942 to 1943 he was president of the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. In October 1942 he became president of the Vermont Bar Association, succeeding Joseph A. McNamara, and he served a one-year term.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 8, 1942 |title=Deane C. Davis of Barre Inducted as President of the Bar Association |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/205875858/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com |page=2 |ref={{sfnRef|"Deane C. Davis of Barre Inducted as President of the Bar Association"}}}}</ref> In 1943 he was appointed a vice president of National Life. He was named president in 1950, and served as chief executive officer from 1960 to 1966. From 1966 to 1968 Davis was National Life's chairman of the board.<ref>The National Underwriter, Volume 47, 1943, page 48</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1940/01/24/archives/insurance-report-shows-asset-rise-massachusetts-mutual-life-adds.html Newspaper article, Insurance Report Shows Asset Rise], New York Times, January 27, 1943</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1943/01/27/archives/quits-the-national-life-fa-howland-retires-after-40-years-with.html Newspaper article, Quits The National Life; F.A. Howland Retires After 40 Years With Insurance Company], New York Times, January 27, 1943</ref><ref>The Vermont Bar Journal & Law Digest, by Vermont Bar Association, Volume 22, 1996, page 44</ref>
==Governor of Vermont== thumb|left|Davis re-election poster, 1970. From 1957 to 1959, Davis served as chairman of a state commission that reviewed the organization and functions of the state government (a "little Hoover Commission") and proposed modernization and reforms in a report to the Vermont General Assembly.<ref>{{cite news |last=Graff |first=Chris |date=May 12, 2009 |title=The 'Future of Vermont' could be history |url=https://www.vtrural.org/programs/policy-councils/future-of-vermont/press/Graff-051209 |work=Council on the Future of Vermont |publisher=Vermont Council on Rural Development |location=Montpelier, VT |access-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506145044/https://www.vtrural.org/programs/policy-councils/future-of-vermont/press/Graff-051209 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1968, Davis decided to continue that work by running for governor.<ref name="NGA">{{cite web |url=https://www.nga.org/governor/deane-c-davis/ |title=Biography, Governor Deane C. Davis |website=NGA.org |publisher=National Governors Association |location=Washington, DC |access-date=May 6, 2021}}</ref> His candidacy was out of the ordinary because he ran at a relatively advanced age, and because he had not served the usual "apprenticeship" of previous successful Republican nominees for governor.<ref name="NGA"/> Prior to Davis, the Republican Party, which had controlled statewide offices for more than 100 years, had almost always prepared candidates for governor by electing them to leadership positions in the Vermont House of Representatives or Vermont Senate, or lesser state offices such as lieutenant governor.<ref name="NGA"/> Davis defeated Attorney General James L. Oakes in the Republican primary.<ref name="NGA"/> In the general election, Davis prevailed over Lieutenant Governor John J. Daley.<ref name="NGA"/>
Davis ran for reelection in 1970 and defeated Lieutenant Governor Thomas L. Hayes in the Republican primary.<ref name="Elections">{{cite web |url=https://electionarchive.vermont.gov/candidates/view/Deane-C-Davis |title=Past Elections: Deane C. Davis |last=Elections Division |website=Vermont Elections Database |publisher=Vermont Secretary of State |location=Montpelier, VT |access-date=May 6, 2021}}</ref> In the general election, Davis prevailed over Democrat Leo O'Brien Jr., who was a member of the Vermont Senate.<ref name="Elections"/> Davis served as governor from 1969 to 1973.<ref name="WGBH2">{{cite web |url=https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip_211-76f1vx6s |title=Legendary: Interview with Former Governor Deane Davis on Career, Part 2 of 2 |last=American Archive of Public Broadcasting |date=November 25, 1978 |website=American Archive.org |publisher=WGBH (FM) |location=Boston, MA}}</ref> His governorship was particularly noteworthy for the creation of a state sales tax to help balance the state budget.<ref name="NGA"/> Davis also oversaw the 1970 enactment of Act 250, a law designed to allow for planned real estate sale and development while also safeguarding the environment, community life, and aesthetic character of the state.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120713091603/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/csmonitor_historic/access/220226302.html?dids=220226302:220226302&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Nov+07,+1968&author=Special+to+The+Christian+Science+Monitor&pub=Christian+Science+Monitor&desc=Davis+leads+Vermont+GOP+sweep+of+all+statewide+offices&pqatl=google Davis Leads Vermont GOP Sweep of All Statewide Offices], Christian Science Monitor, November 7, 1968</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130131151643/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1935652882.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+04,+1972&author=&pub=Boston+Globe+(1960-1979)&desc=Gov.+Davis+says+he'll+bow,+his+goals+for+Vermont+met&pqatl=google Newspaper article, Gov. Davis Says He'll Bow, His Goals for Vermont Met], Boston Globe, April 4, 1972</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/10/obituaries/deane-chandler-davis-dies-at-90-vermont-governor-for-two-terms.html Newspaper article, Deane Chandler Davis Dies at 90; Vermont Governor for Two Terms], by Wolfgang Saxon, New York Times, December 10, 1990</ref> [[File:vshDeanDavis.JPG|140px|thumb|right|Official Vermont State House portrait.]]
==Career as author== In his retirement he authored three books, including 1980's ''Justice in the Mountains'', 1982's ''Nothin' but the Truth'', and 1991's ''Deane C. Davis: An Autobiography''.
==Death and burial== Davis died in Berlin on December 8, 1990.<ref>{{cite news |last=Graff |first=Christopher |agency=Associated Press |date=December 9, 1990 |title=Deane Davis Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/203271214/ |work=Burlington Free Press |location=Burlington, VT |page=1 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> He was interred in Barre's Elmwood Cemetery.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Jack |agency=Vermont Press Bureau |date=December 13, 1990 |title=Davis' Warmth, Wit Remembered |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/534797997/ |work=Rutland Herald |location=Rutland, VT |page=1 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
==Family== In 1924, Davis married Corrine Eastman (1901–1951).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com |title=Deane C. Davis in the Massachusetts Marriage Index, 1901-1955 |date=1924 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com LLC |location=Lehi, UT |access-date=July 29, 2019 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=March 9, 1951 |title=Mrs. Deane Davis Dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/548219969/ |work=Brattleboro Reformer |location=Brattleboro, VT |page= 6 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> They were the parents of three children— Deane (1925–1929), Marian (1927–2014), and Thomas (1931–2017). In 1952, Davis married Marjorie Phyllis Smith Conzelman (1904–2003).<ref>{{cite news |last=Negri |first=Gloria |date=January 25, 2003 |title=Marjorie Smith Davis, 98, Wife of ex-Vermont Governor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/443055393/ |work=The Boston Globe |location=Boston, MA |page=G13 |url-access=subscription |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
==Legacy== In 1957, Davis received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the University of Vermont.<ref name="Marquis"/>
The Deane C. Davis Outstanding Business Award annually honors a Vermont enterprise that shows an outstanding history of sustained growth while displaying an acute awareness of what makes Vermont unique.<ref name="VtTA">{{cite news |last=Couture |first=Jeff |date=June 9, 2020 |title=Chroma Named Deane Davis Outstanding Business of the Year |url=https://www.vermonttechnologyalliance.org/news/511788/Chroma-Named-Deane-Davis-Outstanding-Business-of-the-Year.htm |work=Vermont Technology Alliance News |location=Burlington, VT |access-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-date=May 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506150408/https://www.vermonttechnologyalliance.org/news/511788/Chroma-Named-Deane-Davis-Outstanding-Business-of-the-Year.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> The award is sponsored by ''Vermont Business Magazine'' and the Vermont Chamber of Commerce.<ref name="VtTA"/>
Davis was a noted horseman and proponent of the Morgan horse breed, including service as President of the Morgan Horse Club, Inc.<ref>Exploring Agriculture: An Introduction to Food and Agriculture, by Everett F. Evans and Roy Luther Donahue, 1973, page 458</ref> The Vermont Morgan Horse Association created the Deane C. Davis Memorial Award in his honor.<ref name="Award">{{cite web |url=https://vtmorganhorse.net/deane-c-davis-award/ |title=Deane C. Davis Award |date=2017 |website=VT Morgan Horse.net |publisher=Vermont Morgan Horse Association |location=Westford, VT |access-date=May 6, 2021}}</ref> The Davis Award is presented annually to a person who has a history of promoting the Morgan Horse, but may have made their contribution quietly and steadily over a long period of time.<ref name="Award"/>
A collection of Davis papers is part of the University of Vermont's special collections.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scfindingaids.uvm.edu/repositories/2/resources/1210 |title=Collection Overview, Deane C. Davis Papers |last=Silver Special Collections Library |date=March 31, 1987 |website=UVM.edu |publisher=University of Vermont |location=Burlington, VT}}</ref> Another, the Deane C. Davis Papers are part of the Vermont Historical Society's Barre History Collection.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vermonthistory.org/documents/findaid/DavisDeaneC.pdf |title=Collection Description, Deane C. Davis Papers |last=Barwood |first=Judeen |date=October 31, 2015 |website=Vermont History.org |publisher=Vermont Historical Society |location=Barre, VT |page=1}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Works== *{{cite book|title=Justice in the Mountains: Stories and Tales by a Vermont Country Lawyer|url=https://archive.org/details/justiceinmountai00davi|url-access=registration|isbn=0-933050-05-4|year=1980|publisher=New England Press}} *{{cite book|title=Nothing but the Truth|year=1982|isbn=0-933050-14-3|publisher=New England Press}} *{{cite book|title=Deane C. Davis: An Autobiography|year=1990|isbn=0-933050-91-7|publisher=New England Press}}
==Sources== *[https://books.google.com/books?id=uTBCXqOou0YC&dq=deane+c.+davis+vermont&pg=PA102 The Vermont Encyclopedia], edited by John J. Duffy, Samuel B. Hand and Ralph H. Orth, 2003, page 102
==External links== *[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/davis2.html Deane C. Davis] at The Political Graveyard *{{Find a Grave|11842187}}
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Richard A. Snelling}} {{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Governor of Vermont|years=1968, 1970}} {{s-aft|after=Luther F. Hackett}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Philip H. Hoff}} {{s-ttl|title=Governor of Vermont|years=1969–1973}} {{s-aft|after=Thomas P. Salmon}} {{s-end}}
{{Governors of Vermont}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Deane C.}} Category:1900 births Category:1990 deaths Category:Politicians from Barre, Vermont Category:Businesspeople from Montpelier, Vermont Category:Politicians from Montpelier, Vermont Category:Military personnel from Vermont Category:Boston University School of Law alumni Category:State's attorneys in Vermont Category:American businesspeople in the insurance industry Category:Republican Party governors of Vermont Category:Writers from Vermont Category:20th-century American lawyers Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century Vermont state court judges