Cliff Davis (January 31, 1908 – September 13, 1990) was an American politician who served as Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives and as mayor of Gillette, Wyoming, as a member of the Republican Party.
Davis was born in Thomas, Oklahoma, and his family homesteaded in Campbell County, Wyoming, in 1916. Their ranch grew to 4,485 acres and he operated multiple businesses. He served on the school board and county commission.
Davis served in the state house from 1957 to 1959, and 1961 to 1975. He served in multiple legislative leadership roles and defeated the incumbent mayor of Gillette in the 1970 election. He lost reelection to both the state house and mayoralty in 1974.
Early life
Cliff Davis was born in Thomas, Oklahoma, on January 31, 1908, to J. Fred Davis and Josepene Stokes. Davis' family came to Campbell County, Wyoming as homesteader ranchers north of Gillette in 1916. J. Fred initially planned on buying land, but learned, while 40 miles north of Gillette, that the banker he received the loan from died. On March 1, 1927, he married Elma Knoy, with whom he had three children.[1][2][3][4]
J. Fred moved to Gillette in 1939, and gave the ranch to Cliff. The family's ranch had 2,265 deeded acres and 2,220 leased acres. Cliff also operated a gas station, café, and bar.[4]
Career
Davis served on the school board and county commission of Campbell County.[3] He was a delegate to the Wyoming Republican Party's convention in 1948.[5]
During the 1954 election Davis ran for the Republican nomination for a seat in the Wyoming House of Representatives from Campbell County, but lost the primary to Ted Holdeman.[6] Davis served in the state house from 1957 to 1959, and from 1961 to 1975.[2][7] His campaign spent $53 in 1960 and $105 in 1970.[8][9] He considered running for a seat in the Wyoming Senate in the 1972 election.[10]
During Davis' tenure in the state house he served on the Agriculture and Rules committees[11][12] and as chair of the Revenue committee.[13] He served as majority whip.[14] He was selected to serve as speaker pro tempore in 1970.[15] He was selected to serve as Speaker in 1972.[16]
Davis defeated Kelly Swenson, the incumbent mayor of Gillette, in the 1970 election.[17] He served as acting chief of police in 1974.[18] The town's population rose from 2,800 in 1967, to 9,500 in 1974, due to an oil boom and increased coal mining.[2][19] Davis ran for reelection in 1974, but placed last behind Mike Enzi and James McManamen.[20] Davis also lost in the concurrent state house Republican primary to Jack Mundell and Catherine Parks.[21] Davis appointed McManamen to serve as acting mayor while he was on vacation in Africa.[22]
Later life
Davis bought the Green Trim Motel, which was operated by Elma from 1959 to 1961, and a Chevrolet in 1962.[3][23] In 1978, he was submitted as a candidate to fill the vacancy in the Wyoming Senate created by John Ostlund's resignation, but Eric Ohman was selected instead.[24][25]
Davis died at the Campbell County Memorial Hospital on September 13, 1990.[2] His wife died on August 24, 1991.[23]
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Cliff Davis | 1,245 | 70.06% | ||
| Nonpartisan | Kelly Swenson (incumbent) | 532 | 29.94% | ||
| Total votes | 1,777 | 100.00% | |||
References
- ^ "Newcomer, Two Veterans To Run for State Senate". Casper Star-Tribune. March 18, 1972. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Former House speaker, Gillette mayor dies at 82". Casper Star-Tribune. September 16, 1990. p. B1. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c "C.H. 'Cliff' Davis". Casper Star-Tribune. September 16, 1990. p. B2. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Campbell County's historic ranches: the Davis Ranch". Gillette News-Record. November 14, 2011. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024.
- ^ "State Republican Convention Is Attended by Locals". Star Valley Independent. May 13, 1948. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Campbell Vote Extremely Heavy". Billings Gazette. August 22, 1954. p. 13. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Whitaker Not In Race for Congress". Casper Morning Star. September 16, 1990. p. 2. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "54 Candidates Have Filed Campaign Cost Reports". Casper Morning Star. November 24, 1960. p. 4. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Successful Candidates File". Casper Star-Tribune. November 11, 1970. p. 3. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Davis has a dilemma". Billings Gazette. February 12, 1972. p. 7. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "House Committees Thirty-Fourth Wyoming State Legislature". Jackson's Hole Courier. January 24, 1957. p. 2. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "House Cuts Committee Slate From 18 to 12". Casper Star-Tribune. January 15, 1971. p. 8. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Hearing Set For Mineral Tax Measure". Casper Star-Tribune. February 4, 1969. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "For His Birthday". Casper Star-Tribune. February 4, 1969. p. 19. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "GOP Organizes For Legislature". Casper Star-Tribune. December 3, 1970. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Sessions open". Casper Star-Tribune. January 9, 1973. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Gillette Elects New Mayor". Casper Star-Tribune. November 5, 1970. p. 5. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gillette mayor to act as chief". Casper Star-Tribune. March 6, 1974. p. 21. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gillette mayor says story 'vicious attack'". Casper Star-Tribune. April 22, 1974. p. 5. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "C. H. Davis loses race". Casper Star-Tribune. August 22, 1974. p. 21. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Mayor loses dual race". Casper Star-Tribune. August 22, 1974. p. 1. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gillette council okays new rates". Casper Star-Tribune. August 29, 1974. p. 17. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "Elma M. Davis". Casper Star-Tribune. August 17, 1991. p. B2. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Senator will be chosen". Casper Star-Tribune. May 29, 1978. p. 13. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ohman chosen for state senator's seat". Casper Star-Tribune. May 31, 1978. p. 23. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.