Oblate Father William F. Davis, former diocesan
superintendent of schools, died July 4 at the Oblates of St.
Francis de Sales in Childs, Md. He was 82.
He was born Oct., 2, 1933, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the son of the
late William F. and Agnes Allen Davis.
He attended Niagara University, where his classmates inspired
him to join them at their Oblate seminary.
He was ordained to the priesthood June 3, 1961, by Bishop
Edward J. Schlotterback at St. Anthony of Padua Church in
Wilmington, Del.
He continued his education by earning a master’s in history
from Villanova University in 1967 and a doctorate in
education at Catholic University in Washington.
Father Davis had a distinguished career in education as a
teacher, principal, superintendent and education official. He
fervently defended the value of Catholic education throughout
his lifetime, calling Catholic schools the “best tradition of
the church.”
During his 17 years of service as an official with the U.S.
bishop’s education department, Father Davis worked with three
White House administrations and met with congressional staff
members to advocate for the inclusion of Catholic schools in
education initiatives. He testified before Congress and
worked behind the scenes on Supreme Court briefs concerning
access to remedial education for Catholic school students.
Father Davis served as superintendent of schools in the
Arlington Diocese from 1978 to 1986. Before each school year,
he wrote a state of the union-style letter that was published
in the Catholic Herald to express warm wishes and
brief the diocesan community on his vision for the upcoming
year in Catholic education.
In an article published January 1980, Father Davis said
Catholic schools are worth the price because they are
“educating the most precious resource the church and our
society has – the young.”
In 1984, he was elected to a one-year term as president of
the Virginia Council for Private Education, which encompasses
more than 200 schools. In 1986, he and Lois King Draina
formed the Virginia Catholic Education Association to oversee
the self-study process for accreditation of the schools in
the Arlington and Richmond dioceses.
Prior to serving in the Arlington Diocese, Father Davis was
principal of Father Judge High School in Philadelphia, where
he served previously as assistant principal and director of
studies. He was a member of the committee that developed the
philosophy, goals and objectives for the secondary school
system of the Philadelphia Archdiocese.
“Father Davis was a great champion of Catholic education,”
said Very Rev. James J. Greenfield, oblate provincial. “I
remember from my days as a student when he was principal. He
had a vision to make Father Judge a great school where
students excelled in the places where their talents were most
abundant. He was an inclusive leader no matter where he
worked, bringing his commitment as a pastor to Catholic
schools.”
He is survived by his confreres in the Oblates, as well as by
nieces and nephews. His brother and sister-in-law, Donald and
Claire Davis, preceded him in death.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered July 8 at 11:15
a.m. at Our Lady of Light Chapel, 1120 Blue Ball Rd., Elkton,
Md. A viewing will precede the Mass from 9 to 11 a.m. In lieu
of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the
Oblate Development Fund, 2200 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington,
Del., 19806.
