Cliff Davis

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Cliff Davis

|image = Cliff Davis 01.jpg

|caption = Davis circa 1973

|office = Speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives

|term_start = January 1973

|term_end = January 1975

|predecessor = Ward Myers

|successor = Harold Hellbaum

|state_house2 = Wyoming

|state2 = Wyoming

|district2 =

|term_start2 = 1957

|term_end2 = 1959

|term_start3 = 1961

|term_end3 = 1975

|predecessor2 =

|successor2 =

|office4 = Mayor of Gillette, Wyoming

|term_start4 = 1971

|term_end4 = January 6, 1975

|predecessor4 = Kelly Swenson

|successor4 = Mike Enzi

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{birth date|1908|01|31}}

|birth_place = Thomas, Oklahoma, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|1990|09|13|1908|01|31}}

|death_place = Gillette, Wyoming, U.S.

|spouse = Elma Knoy

|children = 3

|party = Republican

|education =

|signature =

}}

Cliff Davis (January 31, 1908{{spnd}}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.{{Cite news |date=March 18, 1972 |title=Newcomer, Two Veterans To Run for State Senate |page=1 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139063342/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119024148/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139063342/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=September 16, 1990 |title=Former House speaker, Gillette mayor dies at 82 |page=B1 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/82331804/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119015332/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/82331804/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=September 16, 1990 |title=C.H. 'Cliff' Davis |page=B2 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139066078/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119032931/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139066078/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=November 14, 2011 |title=Campbell County's historic ranches: the Davis Ranch |work=Gillette News-Record |url=https://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/archives/article_b739a10e-2476-5463-b437-ecd0b64a61b9.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120040604/https://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/archives/article_b739a10e-2476-5463-b437-ecd0b64a61b9.html |archive-date=January 20, 2024}}

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.

Career

Davis served on the school board and county commission of Campbell County. He was a delegate to the Wyoming Republican Party's convention in 1948.{{Cite news |date=May 13, 1948 |title=State Republican Convention Is Attended by Locals |page=1 |work=Star Valley Independent |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-valley-independent/139069026/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119042644/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-valley-independent/139069026/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}

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.{{Cite news |date=August 22, 1954 |title=Campbell Vote Extremely Heavy |page=13 |work=Billings Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette/139111150/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119210441/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette/139111150/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} Davis served in the state house from 1957 to 1959, and from 1961 to 1975.{{Cite news |date=September 16, 1990 |title=Whitaker Not In Race for Congress |page=2 |work=Casper Morning Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-morning-star/139060812/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119015949/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-morning-star/139060812/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} His campaign spent $53 in 1960 and $105 in 1970.{{Cite news |date=November 24, 1960 |title=54 Candidates Have Filed Campaign Cost Reports |page=4 |work=Casper Morning Star |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-morning-star/139070370/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119204420/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-morning-star/139070370/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=November 11, 1970 |title=Successful Candidates File |page=3 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139109656/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119204707/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139109656/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} He considered running for a seat in the Wyoming Senate in the 1972 election.{{Cite news |date=February 12, 1972 |title=Davis has a dilemma |page=7 |work=Billings Gazette |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette/139114657/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120040353/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-billings-gazette/139114657/ |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}

During Davis' tenure in the state house he served on the Agriculture and Rules committees{{Cite news |date=January 24, 1957 |title=House Committees Thirty-Fourth Wyoming State Legislature |page=2 |work=Jackson's Hole Courier |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/jacksons-hole-courier/139061159/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119020540/https://www.newspapers.com/article/jacksons-hole-courier/139061159/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=January 15, 1971 |title=House Cuts Committee Slate From 18 to 12 |page=8 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139063031/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119023604/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139063031/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} and as chair of the Revenue committee.{{Cite news |date=February 4, 1969 |title=Hearing Set For Mineral Tax Measure |page=1 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139061916/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119021852/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139061916/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} He served as majority whip.{{Cite news |date=February 4, 1969 |title=For His Birthday |page=19 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139062136/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119022249/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139062136/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was selected to serve as speaker pro tempore in 1970.{{Cite news |date=December 3, 1970 |title=GOP Organizes For Legislature |page=1 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139062808/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119023302/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139062808/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was selected to serve as Speaker in 1972.{{Cite news |date=January 9, 1973 |title=Sessions open |page=1 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139063614/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119024717/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139063614/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Davis defeated Kelly Swenson, the incumbent mayor of Gillette, in the 1970 election.{{Cite news |date=November 5, 1970 |title=Gillette Elects New Mayor |page=5 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139062557/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119022910/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139062557/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} He served as acting chief of police in 1974.{{Cite news |date=March 6, 1974 |title=Gillette mayor to act as chief |page=21 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139064259/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119025754/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139064259/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} The town's population rose from 2,800 in 1967, to 9,500 in 1974, due to an oil boom and increased coal mining.{{Cite news |date=April 22, 1974 |title=Gillette mayor says story 'vicious attack' |page=5 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139064454/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119030209/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139064454/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} Davis ran for reelection in 1974, but placed last behind Mike Enzi and James McManamen.{{Cite news |date=August 22, 1974 |title=C. H. Davis loses race |page=21 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82275652/casper-star-tribune/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119034437/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/82275652/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} Davis also lost in the concurrent state house Republican primary to Jack Mundell and Catherine Parks.{{Cite news |date=August 22, 1974 |title=Mayor loses dual race |page=1 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139065028/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119031039/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139065028/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}} Davis appointed McManamen to serve as acting mayor while he was on vacation in Africa.{{Cite news |date=August 29, 1974 |title=Gillette council okays new rates |page=17 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139065112/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119031305/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139065112/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Later life

Davis bought the Green Trim Motel, which was operated by Elma from 1959 to 1961, and a Chevrolet in 1962. 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.{{Cite news |date=May 29, 1978 |title=Senator will be chosen |page=13 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139065450/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119031637/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139065450/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{Cite news |date=May 31, 1978 |title=Ohman chosen for state senator's seat |page=23 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139065656/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119032027/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139065656/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Davis died at the Campbell County Memorial Hospital on September 13, 1990. His wife died on August 24, 1991.{{Cite news |date=August 17, 1991 |title=Elma M. Davis |page=B2 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139066424/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119033503/https://www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/139066424/ |archive-date=January 19, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}