RICHARD DAVIS

DAVIS--Richard R. Richard R. Davis passed away in New York on August 7, 2023. He was born in Houston, TX, 1936, to William Ralph Davis and Virginia Lee Allison, where his father's family farm in Johnson County is still in operation, since 1845. At a young age, he moved to Alexandria, VA where he attended the Episcopal High School. After Episcopal, he enlisted in the Army in 1956 for a tour as an instructor, teaching NATO and U.S. troops in Nike, Fire Control Systems for anti-aircraft missiles at Fort Bliss. Older than his classmates, he entered the class of 1962 at Yale. After graduation, uncertain whether to pursue business or law, he enrolled concurrently in both Yale Law School and Columbia Graduate School of Business, graduating from both in 1965. Moving to New York, he joined the law firm of Chadbourne & Parke, where he became a partner in 1974. In 1983, he became General Counsel of Inspiration Resources Corporation, traveling to their mines and plants throughout North America. For the last 15 years of his career, retiring in 2006, he served as General Counsel of Bessemer Securities Corporation and Bessemer Trust. He served on the Board of Meharry Medical College, a historically black graduate school in the medical sciences from 1993 - 2022. He will be remembered for his sense of adventure, dignity to others and love of family. He is survived by his wife, Christina, of 49 years and daughter, Virginia Lee Allison Davis O'Keefe, son-in-law Edward F. O'Keefe and two grandchildren, Elsa Cecelia O'Keefe and Alton Davis O'Keefe. A private burial service will be held at Mount Comfort Cemetery in Alexandria, VA. A fund has been established at the Yale Library, the Richard R. Davis Library Conservation Resource Fund.