Mendel Jackson Davis
Mendel Jackson Davis | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 1st district | |
In office April 27, 1971 – January 3, 1981 | |
Preceded by | L. Mendel Rivers |
Succeeded by | Thomas F. Hartnett |
Personal details | |
Born | October 23, 1942 North Charleston, South Carolina |
Died | May 13, 2007 Charleston, South Carolina | (aged 64)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Jane McGee Smith Davis |
Mendel Jackson Davis (October 23, 1942 – May 13, 2007) was an attorney and a United States Representative from South Carolina.
Early life and career
Mendel Jackson Davis was born in North Charleston to Felix Charles Davis and Elizabeth Jackson Davis. He was raised in Garco Village and graduated from North Charleston High School in 1960 where he participated in sports and student government.
Three days after graduating from high school, Davis went to work in the office of Congressman
Political career
Rivers died in Birmingham during a heart surgery operation in December 1970, almost two months after being elected to a 16th term. Davis ran in the ensuing special election to replace Rivers for the 1st congressional district, which centered around Charleston and spread along the southern portion of the state's Atlantic coastline from Jasper County to Georgetown County. The close ties between Davis and Rivers enabled Davis to defeat future governor James B. Edwards by 5,100 votes in the district's first competitive election in memory. He was held to 54% of the vote in his bid for a full term in 1972, but was reelected three more times without serious difficulty.
In Congress, Davis worked to create comprehensive health care for the district and to increase the
Later life and career
In 1980, Davis declined to seek reelection because of a recurring back problem. The Republicans took the seat as part of the Reagan landslide, and held it until Joe Cunningham regained it for the Democrats in 2018.
Davis returned to Charleston to practice law, perform consultant work, host a radio talk show, and serve as chairman of the Charleston County Democratic Party. He tried to regain his congressional seat in 1985, but lost to Jimmy Stuckey in the Democratic primary. For his efforts to bring the Yorktown to Patriot's Point, Davis was honored by having a traffic circle near the aircraft carrier named in his honor. He died on May 13, 2007, after being disabled for several years by emphysema.
See also
References
- United States Congress. "Mendel Jackson Davis (id: D000125)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- "Former U.S. lawmaker Davis dies". The Post and Courier. 14 May 2007. pp. 1B, 6B.