H.G. “Buddy” Davis, retired professor and distinguished alumnus, dies at 80
H.G. “Buddy” Davis
(August 17, 2004) -- H.G. “Buddy” Davis, retired professor and distinguished alumnus, passed away yesterday at Shands Hospital following a heart attack on Sunday. He turned 80 this summer.
Davis was awarded a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1948 and a master of arts in mass communication in 1952, both from UF. He joined the journalism faculty in 1954 and retired in 1985.
During most of that time he also worked at the Gainesville Sun. He won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing in 1971. That same year he was recognized as the college's second alumnus of distinction and was named a distinguished alumnus of UF. In 1977, he received the Wells Key Award from Sigma Delta Chi. That year he also was named a Distinguished Service Professor at UF. He was recognized in 1963 with the Sidney Hillman Award for editorials dealing with race relations and civil liberties, and by Sigma Delta Chi with an award for editorial writing. He received the Distinguished Faculty Award from Florida Blue Key in 1965.
Davis was larger than life while a faculty member and a legend to generations of journalism students. He taught almost every course in the journalism curriculum at one time or another, so almost every student in the college had a class with him. Everyone remembered him—some because they were locked out of class for arriving late, some because they earned the dreaded "crown of thorns" for an ethical lapse—and nearly all because they learned from him the importance of journalistic standards of accuracy, accuracy and accuracy.
No funeral service is planned. The family plans to have a public memorial service, probably in September.
Related Link
Gainesville Sun: Pulitzer-winning Sun editorialist Davis dies
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