Denver Norton Davison (October 9, 1891 – April 28, 1983) was an American jurist from Oklahoma. Born in

Rich Hill, Missouri Rich Hill is a city in southern Bates County, Missouri, and is part of the Kansas City metropolitan area within the United States. The population was 1,232 at the 2020 census. History Rich Hill was platted in 1880. The city was named in 1871 by ...

, he moved to the

Choctaw Nation The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (Choctaw: ''Chahta Okla'') is a Native American reservation occupying portions of southeastern Oklahoma in the United States. At roughly , it is the second-largest reservation in area after the Navajo, exceeding t ...

in Indian Territory in 1906 to work in the coal mines there. He earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1915, and entered private practice, until he was appointed to the

Oklahoma Supreme Court The Supreme Court of Oklahoma is a court of appeal for non-criminal cases, one of the two highest judicial bodies in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, and leads the judiciary of Oklahoma, the judicial branch of the government of Oklahoma.

in 1937. When he died at age 91 on April 28, 1983, he had served for over 41 years, longer on the Oklahoma Supreme Court than any other justice until that time. He had also served an unprecedented three terms as chief justice."Longtime Justice Davison Dies at 91." ''The Oklahoman''. April 29, 1983.
Accessed September 6, 2019.

Education and early career

Davison reportedly attended high school in Kansas City, Missouri, then studied at the University of Missouri for two years. During this time, he also worked in Kansas coal mines until he moved to

Bokoshe, Oklahoma Bokoshe ( ) is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Fort Smith metropolitan area, metropolitan statistical area. ''Bokoshe'' is a Choctaw word meaning "littl ...

, in 1906, where it was said that he was paid $1.07 per day. During World War I, he served for 18 months in the Army Signal Corps. After discharge, he became a charter member of the Coalgate American Legion Post. He received a law degree from

Oklahoma University The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a public research university in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two territories became the state of Oklahoma. ...

(OU) in 1915. After graduating from OU, he moved to Lehigh, Oklahoma, where he practiced law and published the ''Lehigh News''. Later he moved to

Coalgate, Oklahoma Coalgate is a city in and the county seat of Coal County, Oklahoma, Coal County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,967 at the 2010 census, a 1.9 percent decrease from the figure of 2,005 recorded in 2000. The town was founded in 1889 ...

. He practiced law there for 12 years and also served as county attorney. He then moved to

Ada Ada may refer to: Arts and entertainment * '' Ada or Ardor: A Family Chronicle'', a novel by Vladimir Nabokov Film and television * Ada, a character in 1991 movie '' Armour of God II: Operation Condor'' * '' Ada... A Way of Life'', a 2008 Bollywo ...

, where he practiced law for another 10 years.

Oklahoma Supreme Court

Davison was appointed as an associate justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court by Governor E. W. Marland on August 7, 1937. During his tenure, he was retained five times to serve as a Justice. Justice Davison retired from the court in 1978. Judge Rudolph Hargrave was appointed to succeed him.Morava, Kim. "Pottawatomie County District Judge Douglas L. Combs is one of seven applicants vying for an appointment to the Oklahoma Supreme Court." ''The Shawnee News-Star''. October 15, 2010.
Accessed December 15, 2019.

Organization memberships

* Alpha Tau Omega, legal fraternity, Coalgate, Oklahoma * B.P.O.E. (Elks); Coalgate * Oak Hills Country Club; Ada * American Legion (Ada Post)

Death

Davison died on April 29, 1983. Survivors included his second wife, Lillian (née Wright); daughter-in-law, Susan N. Cason, grandchildren, Denver N. Davison and Trigg Yerby (all of Ada), Celeste Barringer ( of Ardmore)and Robert Cason (of Norman). His only son, Captain Denver B. Davison, was killed in WWII. Davison's funeral was held at Crown Heights United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City, and he was interred at Rosedale Cemetery in Ada.

Legacy

*Davison was an original member of the Will Rogers Memorial Commission and is credited with obtaining the Rogers family's approval of the memorial building. *An office building constructed on the Oklahoma City capitol complex has been named for Denver Davison.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davison, Denver 1891 births 1983 deaths Lawyers from Kansas City, Missouri Chief justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Court University of Missouri alumni University of Oklahoma College of Law alumni Politicians from Ada, Oklahoma People from Coal County, Oklahoma People from Le Flore County, Oklahoma District attorneys in Oklahoma 20th-century American newspaper publishers (people) People from Bates County, Missouri United States Army personnel of World War I Military personnel from Missouri 20th-century American judges Lawyers from Ada, Oklahoma