Evening star., 1945-11-29
Davis, III for Weeks,
dies at sc at Home Here
Served as Secretary Of
War; Was Donor
Of Tennis Trophy

Dwight F. Davis, 66, Secretary
of War in the Coolidge admins
tration, Governor General of the
Philippines under President
Hoover and donor of the inter-
national tennis trophy which
bears his name, died last night
at his home, 2145 Decatur place
NV, after q lengthy illness.
Mr.. Davis, who suffered q heart
attack last April, had been gravely
i'll for several weeks. At hts bedside
last night, when death came at
l1:15 O'Clock, were his wife and four
children by 4 former marriage, Mrs.
Roger Makins, Mrs. w. McChesney
Martin, Mrs. Allan Hermes and
Dwight F. Davis. jr.
Mr.. Davis will be buried in Ar
lington Cemetery after services at
10 am. tomorrow in the cemetery
chapel.
Born to a fortune, but a man
who made his mark In the world
ss a result Of an inherent interest
in public affairs, Mr.. Davis will be
remembered by the American peo-
pie as both a great athlete and q
statesman.
His most notable period in the
public service was from 1925 to 1929
as Secretary Of War. When Herbert
Hoover became President, he ap-
pointed Mr.. Davis governor general
OF the Philippine Islands. After
leaving that post in 1882, he retired
to private life
Won Tennis Fame Early.
In athletics, Mr.. Davis, paired
with Holcombe Ward, won three sue
cessive national doubles champion
ships on the tennis court in 1899,
1900 and 1901. For the rest of his
life he was known in tennis circles
as the donor OF the Davis Cup, first
offered in 1900, as emblematic of
the international team champion
ship in tennis.
Although stalwart and grey
haired in his mature years, Mr.
Davis had been wiry and quick OF
movement in his youth. Sports
writer's during his stellar period In
tennis credited him with extraor-
dinary GOODNESS of judgment in his
performance on the court.
Mr.. Davis was born in st. Louis
July S, 1879 His father, John
T. Davis, was in comfortable cir
cumstances and gave his son a good
education. He received his academic
degree from Harvard in 1900 ano
his law degree from Washington
University, st. Louis, three years
later.
| Sponsored Civic Projects.
Along with his law practice, Mr.
Davis early In his life took a keer
interest in public affairs. AS Com.
missioner Of Parks in st. Louis, he
worked out 4 cohesive system oi
Fairgrounds, tennis courts and gol1
links which makes his home town
today great center Of athletic &C.
tivities.
Background for Mr.. Davis latel
service in the Federal Government,
was gained during the World War
i Commissioned in 1917 as q captain
in the 5th Missouri Infantry, hi
went to France and won Distin.
guished Service Cross for extra
ordinary heroism" at Baulny ano
Chaudron Farm. He ended his mill
tary career as a lieutenant-colonel
and at the conclusion of the war
was commissioned q full colonel in
the Reserve Corps.
Mr.. Davis came to Washington In
1921 as q member OF the War
Finance Corp. Two years later he
was named by President Coolidge
as Assistant Secretary Of War. Upon
the resignation Of Secretary John
w. Weeks in 1925 because of Ill
health, Mr.. Davis became head OF
the department.
Active in Mitchell Case.
| Earlier, during Mr.. Weeks illness
Mr.. Davis had taken responsibility
for handling the historic case o.
Brig. Gen. William Billy) Mitchell.
public outburst over the Coolidg.
Administrators asserted failure tc
support and build up military avi.
alton. Gen. Mitchell-then q col
onel-created q difficult situation
for the White House and War De.
partment by charging publicly thai
President Coolidge had been guilty
Of favoritism and incompetence IL
his handling Of Americas air policy
Although the later course Of mill.
tary history proved that Gen. Mitch
ell was correct. his public airing O
charges against his superiors createt