CONTACT: John Hughes FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Patricia Viets 3/19/96
Dick Davis, the data administrator at the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, N.C., has been honored for 50 years of government service. Davis oversees data administration at the world's largest active archive of weather data.
"It is indeed an honor to work with Dick Davis," said Ken Hadeen, NCDC's director. "He is an inspiration to all of us and a prime example of government service at its best."
Davis's federal career began on July 4, 1945, when he was sworn into the U.S. Navy. He attended aerographer's school and held several positions as an aerographer's mate. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1949.
The following year, Davis began his civilian career as a plotter with the then U.S. Weather Bureau in Washington, D.C. He transferred to the Asheville Center in 1955, when it was called the National Weather Records Center. Over the years at the center, Davis oversaw operations involving computer products, data bases, and data from cooperative weather observers throughout the country. He also was a projects coordinator for the director. Davis has received various honors throughout his career, including the Depart- ment of Commerce Bronze Medal in 1972 and the Silver Medal in 1986.
Davis is well-known to the Asheville area. He has been a member of the Asbury Memorial United Methodist Church choir for 41 years. He is also a Scout Master in the Boy Scouts; an eight-gallon Red Cross Blood Donor; Chief, Reserve Officer Corps, Buncombe County Sheriff's Department; a member of the Asheville Community Band; past president and member of the Association of Retarded Citizens (United Way Agency); and a tutor for the NCDC Partners in Education Program at Isaac Dickson Elementary School.
Davis lives in Asheville with his wife Barbara.