John Davies '49
Katharine Merrill Graydon Alumni Service Award, 2002
John Davies' remarkable Butler career has touched the lives of
many in the Butler family. He graduated from Butler in 1949 with a
degree in business administration. With Butler diploma in hand,
John found his way to General Motors Acceptance Corporation in
Detroit, MI, where he stayed for 41 years and rose to vice
president.
John attended Shortridge High School in Indianapolis. When he
came to Butler, John was asked to join the Sigma Nu fraternity. He
was called to military service in 1945. Following discharge, he
reenrolled at Butler in January 1947 and in December married
Margaret Sullivan, a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. After
graduation in 1949, John began a 41 year career with General Motors
Acceptance Corporation.
During those GMAC years, the Davies family relocated 14 times.
John was responsible for International Operations and traveled to
26 countries. John retired in 1990; he and Margaret moved to Ponte
Vedra Beach, Florida, where they are members of the Palms
Presbyterian Church and the Ponte Vedra Country Club.
John was a member of the Alumni Association board of directors
and served as development committee chair. He was the class of 1949
reunion spokesman in 1994. John was active in the Detroit Butler
alumni chapter and was a member of the Business Advisory Council in
1983-1985. The Davies became members of the Ovid Butler Society in
1989.
John and Margaret have two children, Rick and Nancy, and one
grandson, Joshua. They are the great-grandparents of Colin and
Audry. In 1996, the Davies generously set up a scholarship fund at
Butler.
Updated 2002