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TOM J. DAVIS - - AN APPRECIATION.

By Crawford C. McCullough

President Rotary International - 1921-1922

From: The Rotarian,

           December, 1953.

"Tom Davis worked hard all his life helping other people."

So began the leading editorial in the Butte, Montana, morning newspaper October 23, 1953. Then followed a moving tribute to a greatly loved man who in a life of unselfish but telling leadership had achieved true greatness at home and afar.

Tom Davis was a dynamic personality of great creative ability and with the indestructible gift for making friends and keeping them.

Among all his varied interests to which he devoted heart and band and strength, and they were many - Rotary, Y.M.C.A., Salvation Army, the Baptist church, the Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts, Crippled children, Masonic bodies, the Montana bar, national politics - none appealed to him with such continuous challenge as did service to youth, to the boys and girls, to the young adults, and their development into God-fearing, sound-in-body-and-mind, useful citizens.

He was a man of many parts. As a student in law at the University of Michigan and subsequently on his return home and entry into active law practice, he was a prominent athlete, excelling in baseball and basketball. So good was he at third base that he was offered, but refused, a professional contract with a major-league team.

As a lawyer his clients included the rich and the poor, the great and the hmble. His natural ability to grasp the essentials in litigation and incisive skill of presentation won the respect of his colleagues. In 1946-47 he headed the Montana Bar Association.

Tom's loyalties were intense - to his city, his country, international amity. And, above all, to his friends.

For him citizenship was a priceless treasure to be defended at all cost of time, money and effort. Citizenship was trusteeship and he a custodian. To be a loyal and active member of the political party of his choice was privilege and duty alike. But loyalty to country held overriding precedence to loyalty to party. In 1945 at San Francisco he was a consultant to the U.S.A. delegation at the drafting of the Charter of the United Nations. As a public speaker he was in great demand.

In 1919-20 Tom was President of the Rotary Club of Butte and successively was District Governor, Third Vice-President of Rotary International, and Chairman or manber of numerous Committees of Rotary International. He climaxed his ascending career with the Presidency in 1941-42. This was in wartime. Here he brought to his difficult task the full force of his indomitable will to do well whatever he put his hand to. Rotary's fourth avenue of service was for him no hazy and unattainable ideal. In spite of the traged;y of ruthless war, it was a realistic challenge to action. At the close of his year as President he told the Toronto Convention in 1942: "There is no greater problem confronting mankind than learning how to live together. But as we are spending astronomical sums each day in learning to die together, cannot we spend a little time in searching for a means of living together?"

In succeeding years he served Rotary in many avenues. The demands upon his time continued unabated. The wonder grew how he made time to continue active participation in community activities at home. It excited the admiration and secured the affectionate devotion of the home-town folks, his friends and associates of a lifetime, and his own family. Tom leaves his wife, Hester; his son, Tom, Jr; and two daughters, Peggy and Shirley.

The evening newspaper of Tom's home city concluded its leading editorial October 23 with these words: "Of him it may be truthfully said, that always his efforts were devoted to the common good; and always were they productive. No man could have a finer epitaph."

A great Rotarian and friend to all human! ty has passed to his reward and this must surely encompass some high post amongst the heavenly throng.

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