William P. Davis III ’31

Bill Davis was born in Philadelphia Dec. 29, 1909, and died Oct. 12, 1999, of complications associated with Parkinson's disease. Except for WWII, he spent his entire life in the Philadelphia area.

He attended Chestnut Hill Academy and Penn Charter School. At Princeton, he was on the water polo and lacrosse teams, and a member of Triangle Club and Tiger Inn. His father was William P. Davis Jr. 1896.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Bill "completed a classic climb up the corporate ladder at First Pennsylvania Banking and Trust Co., rising from the investment analysis department in 1931 to vice-chairman of the board before he retired in 1974." He then worked 10 years as Drexel U.'s v.p. for public relations.

During WWII, he was in the Office of Strategic Services assigned to the Mediterranean and China theaters. For his five years of service, Bill received the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Order of the British Empire, and the Chinese Order of Yuri Hui. He was discharged a col.

He served as director, trustee or chairman of various service organizations, and was a member of the Princeton Club of Philadelphia. He was an avid golfer.

Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Phoebe Harding, one son, Henry A. '65, and one sister. The class extends its deepest sympathy to the entire family.

The Class of 1931