A native Oklahoman, Don Davis has dedicated his many and varied careers to serving the public and making our state a better place to live, learn, prosper, raise a family and enjoy one’s blessings. Born into a family of educators, Don lived in Walters and Velma before moving to Lawton as a teenager. He graduated from Lawton High and studied a year at what is now Cameron University before graduating from OU with a journalism degree and accepting a staff job with U.S. Senator Fred Harris in Washington, D.C. Deciding that Washington was not the place for him, Don returned to OKC where he worked as a newspaper reporter while attending OU Law School.
In 1969, he graduated, passed the bar exam and opened a law office in Lawton. For more than a decade his law practice included being general counsel for a company that provided the military with aircraft maintenance and management services on multiple installations in the U.S. and overseas, creating the Comanche County Housing Finance Authority which provided low-to-moderate income home buyers with $64 million in mortgage loans, and representing individuals who needed legal help in matters involving personal injury, family relations, criminal defense, real estate, small business operations, estate planning and probate. While engaged in this law practice, Don served 10 years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, eight of which as chair or vice chair of the Appropriations and Budget Committee.
Through this work he learned how state government works and how ordinary people can access its programs. After leaving the legislature, Don headed two special commissions to revise Oklahoma’s tax laws and served on another recommending structural reforms for state government. In 1980, Don became president of Cameron University and led the institution’s growth in enrollment, fiscal stability, economic development initiatives, public service programs, accreditations, internet offerings, a Duncan campus, and the first graduate programs available in Southwest Oklahoma. Also, the Aggies won national championships in football and golf during his tenure.
After 22 years as president, Don retired from Cameron in 2002 and became special counsel for policy and legislation to Governor Brad Henry. In addition, he managed the Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission, which was responsible for the state’s preparation and response to the federal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission. Oklahoma was the only state which did not suffer a closure or major realignment. Don looks forward to hearing your story and working with you to solve your legal problems.
