Rex D. Davis
Encyclopedia
Rex Darwin Davis was a federal law enforcement officer in the United States, with a long career in the U.S. Treasury Department. He was the first director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
. He began his education at the University of Oklahoma
in 1942, but interrupted it for World War II
military service (1943–1946). After the war, he married (1946) and completed a law degree
(1949). Later in his career, he was a visiting student at Princeton's
Woodrow Wilson School (1965–1966).
He was a bombardier
in the U.S. Army Air Forces, 1942–1945, and flew thirty-three combat mission
s with Eighth Air Force
, England
. He returned to civilian life a first lieutenant
, decorated with the Air Medal
and Purple Heart
.
He was a strong supporter of the Brady Campaign
against gun violence
. He was a founding member of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington.
He died of complications from a colon infection, January 7, 2008, in Bethesda, Maryland.
Personal
Mr. Davis was born June 11, 1924, in Skiatook, OklahomaSkiatook, Oklahoma
Skiatook is a town in Osage and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is a suburb of Tulsa. The population was 7,397 in the 2010 census, compared to 5,396 at the 2000 census.-History:William C...
. He began his education at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in 1942, but interrupted it for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
military service (1943–1946). After the war, he married (1946) and completed a law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
(1949). Later in his career, he was a visiting student at Princeton's
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
Woodrow Wilson School (1965–1966).
He was a bombardier
Bombardier (air force)
A bombardier , in the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force, or a bomb aimer, in the Royal Air Force and other Commonwealth air forces, was the crewman of a bomber responsible for assisting the navigator in guiding the plane to a bombing target and releasing the aircraft's bomb...
in the U.S. Army Air Forces, 1942–1945, and flew thirty-three combat mission
Combat mission
Combat mission may refer to:*Military operation, the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation*Combat Mission , the name of a successful series of computer games simulating tactical battles...
s with Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He returned to civilian life a first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
, decorated with the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
and Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
.
He was a strong supporter of the Brady Campaign
Brady Campaign
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence are affiliated non-profit organizations in the United States. They are named after James Brady who was permanently disabled as a result of an assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
against gun violence
Gun violence
Gun violence defined literally means the use of a firearm to threaten or inflict violence or harm. Gun violence may be broadly defined as a category of violence and crime committed with the use of a firearm; it may or may not include actions ruled as self-defense, actions for law enforcement, or...
. He was a founding member of the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington.
He died of complications from a colon infection, January 7, 2008, in Bethesda, Maryland.
Awards & memberships
- William A. Jump Memorial Foundation Meritorious Award for contributions to operating procedures in administering the Alcohol and Tax Division of the Internal Revenue ServiceInternal Revenue ServiceThe Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
. - International Platform Association
- Federal Bar AssociationFederal Bar AssociationThe Federal Bar Association is the primary voluntary professional organization for private and government lawyers and judges practicing and sitting in federal courts in the United States.-Background:...
- Federal Business Association
- Pi Kappa AlphaPi Kappa AlphaPi Kappa Alpha is a Greek social fraternity with over 230 chapters and colonies and over 250,000 lifetime initiates in the United States and Canada.-History:...
- Greenhills (Ohio) Golf and Country Club
Career
- U.S. Treasury Department, criminal investigator (agent), in McAlester, OklahomaMcAlester, OklahomaMcAlester is a city in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 17,783 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pittsburg County. It is currently the largest city in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, followed by Durant....
, (1949–1955) - part-time law instructor and assistant director at Treasury Law Enforcement School, Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, 1953–1961 - special investigator in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, 1955–1958 - enforcement examiner on national office staff, Washington, D.C., 1958–1962
- executive assistant to assistant regional commissioner, Alcohol and Tobacco Tax Division, Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati, OhioCincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, 1962–1966 - assistant regional commissioner 1966–
- director of the IRS ATF division (1970–1972)
- director of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (apart from the IRS) (1972–1978?)
- retired from federal service (1978)
- head of three trade associations in the alcoholic-beverages industry (after 1978)
- president of the National Association of Beverage Importers
- president and chief executive of New Europe Wines
- executive director of the President's Forum of the Beverage Alcohol Industry.