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[[logo]] NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. [[3 images]] Left, John W. Davis; right, top, past Imperial Potentates Leon Berry and Charles Dargan at LDF headquarters for presentation of 1980 check from Prince Hall Shriners; bottom, Imperial Potentate Harry E. Smith of Toledo, Jack Greenberg, and Mrs. Dorothy Jenkins Scott, Imperial Commandress, Daughters of Isis, Detroit. He was, as one civic leader would say about him, "the tallest tree of the forest." For in the 92 years which proceeded his passing last July, John Warren Davis had been a teacher, a scientist and a diplomat. But most of all, said Howard University president James E. Cheek at a memorial service in Englewood, N.J., John W. Davis would be remembered as "a giant in civil rights." His first and most beloved career was as a teacher. At the age of 31, Dr. Davis was appointed president of West Virginia State College. Over the next 34 years he would guide the growth and development of this small school in the mountains from an enrollment of 21 students to one of nearly 2,000. At the age of 65, when men of lesser vision look forward to retirement, Dr. Davis began a second career when President Truman appointed him to serve under this country's first black Ambassador, Edward R. Dudley, as Director of American Technical Services Assistance to Liberia. Upon returning from foreign service, Dr. Davis was asked by Thurgood Marshall, then Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, to become its Director of Education. Thus, at the age of 68, Dr. Davis began his third career, serving with distinction until his death last year. During the course of his 92 years, there was little in the work of John W. Davis which could be considered "unfinished." Even in the moments preceding his death on that Saturday morning last July, he was at home preparing to come to his office at LDF to work for the benefit of others. High on his agenda that day was continuing work to complete a project involving Prince Hall Masons. Building upon the solid foundation laid down by Justice Marshall he succeeded in demonstrating, to Prince Hall Masons how indispensable their support was. By 1979, their contributions to LDF totaled more than $800,000. To raise this to $1,000,000 was the goal and challenge Dr. Davis set for himself. In planning this project, Dr. Davis was always careful to point out that the investment Prince Hall Masons were making in LDF was being returned, many fold, through the several millions for black workers and their families won from cases in employment discrimination and back pay awards. This is money not won for LDF but for the people it represented. That figure for the past two years alone is $10.1 million. To quote Dr. Davis from a letter to the Grand Masters in October, 1979: "It is my hope that this proposal will meet with the enthusiastic approval of each of our Grand Masters and Members of their Grand Lodges, so that our Prince Hall Family can boast that it has been given one million dollars for the protection and advancement of the legal and constitutional rights of Negroes in this country...." Board of Directors Chairman of the Board: William T. Coleman, Jr. President: Julius L. Chambers Vice President: Wiley A. Branton Secretaries: Dr. George D. Cannon Constance S. Lindau Treasurer: Robert H. Preiskel Director-Counsel: Jack Greenberg Associate Counsel: James M. Nabrit, III Mrs. Henry Aaron Mrs. Farrow R. Allen Eleanor S. Applewhaite John T. Baker Jean K. Benjamin Wiley A Branton Helen L. Buttenwieser George D. Cannon Julius L. Chambers I.H. Clayborn William K. Coblentz William T. Coleman, Jr. Ossie Davis Peggy C. Davis Peter J. DeLuca Adrian W. DeWind Anthony Downs Charles T. Duncan Marian Wright Edelman Christopher F. Edley Helen G. Edmonds David E. Feller John H. Filer H. Minton Francis Norman C. Francis Marvin E. Frankel John Hope Franklin A. G. Gaston Robert W. Gilmore Charles V. Hamilton Eliot Hubbard, III Catherine Huber Ann M. Hutchinson Joseph E. Jenkins Frank N. Jones Jetta N. Jones Anna J. Julian Harry Kahn Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Ronald P. Klein Constance S. Lindau George E. Marshall, Jr. Robert McDougal, Jr. Paul Moore, Jr. James M. Nabrit, Jr. Mrs. Elliot M. Ogden, Jr. Estelle M. Osborne* Barrington D. Parker, Jr. Robert S. Potter Robert H. Preiskel Harriet Rabb Maxwell M. Rabb F.F. Randolph, Jr. Mrs. Samuel I. Rosenman Harvey C. Russell Bayard Rustin William H. Scheide Orville H. Schell, Jr. Bernard G. Segal Jacob Sheinkman Join us in helping to maintain a strong and energetic program against racial injustice. 291