A. George Davis, Professor Emeritus at Clarkson University died 23 February, 2021 at home in Potsdam, NY after living in and enriching Potsdam for 68 years. Born Alpheus George Davis in Rotterdam, NY 21 December 1926 and named for his grandfather â who preferred to be known as A. G. Davis. Many, even most, knew him as simply âGeorge,â or for those who knew him through his decades at Clarkson, âDean Davis.â Striking a humorous note, he typically introduced himself to incoming students at Clarkson by sayingâ Iâm A. George Davis, not the species.â
George enrolled in Union College at the age of 15 in 1942 and temporarily left by enlisting in the U.S. Navy. His Naval career was brief but distinguished, enlisting as E1 in 1944 and separating as Lieutenant (O3) in 1946 â commanding a train carrying demobilizing Sailors from San Francisco to New York City. That train took him through Amarillo, TX and he first saw segregated bathrooms there - a sight that established his support for racial equality and civil rights. His interest in this lasted through the rest of his life.