TROY honors

DONORS & GIVING

(from left) Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Janice Hawkins, Jane Beasley (’74), Roy Cain (’81) and Karen Carter (’73)

STATUE, SCHOLARSHIP BRUNCH HONORS DR. FRED B. DAVIS

“The Student Scholar,” a statue by the late Dr. Huo Bao Zhu, was dedicated in April to the memory of Dr. Fred B. Davis during a ceremony in front of Lurleen B. Wallace Hall on the Troy Campus. Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Chancellor, said Dr. Davis embodied the culture of caring for which Troy University is known. “This is significant because Fred Davis was significant,” Dr. Hawkins said. “There have been very few people in the last 100 years that have made more of a difference at Troy University than Fred. He was Chief Academic Officer, but he was so much more than that. I think we have seen the outpouring of support, love and respect that Fred enjoyed from all those students and colleagues who knew him.” Known for his tireless commitment to TROY students, Dr. Davis passed away in 2019. Dr. Davis climbed the ranks from Assistant Professor of English to the office of Provost during his 33-plus-year tenure at TROY, touching many lives along the way and inspiring all those who crossed his path. Dr. Hawkins said the choice to dedicate a statue depicting a student scholar in Dr. Davis’ memory was very appropriate. “Fred was a very learned scholar. He loved literature, he loved the written word, he was a grammarian,” Dr. Hawkins said. “We thought that something that would reflect his love of learning, the love of writing, and the love of reading would be appropriate. It is a great honor to have something to remind us on a daily basis, not only of the artist Huo Bao Zhu, but particularly of Fred Davis. That is why we made the decision to place the statue in front of the library, a place that he truly loved.” The dedication ceremony followed the Scholarship Brunch, which has also been named in Dr. Davis’ memory. The brunch, held each spring, serves to celebrate donors who have helped to establish more than 500 privately funded scholarships benefiting deserving TROY students.