Don Davis (Florida politician)

He attended the University of Redlands in California before serving in the United States Army for three years, leaving the service as a sergeant first class.

The family moved to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1960 with the Occidental Life Insurance Company (now Transamerica Corporation), where they raised their two sons, Robert (Don, Jr.) and Dean.

During several years in the insurance industry as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Davis established a reputation of integrity and was asked to serve on the Local Government Study Commission (LGSC) which the Florida legislature created in 1965.

In 1978, he was named vice president of Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co. (SWD), responsible for all Deerwood Club operations, including the sale of residences and home sites.

When Gate Petroleum bought the Florida real estate holdings of SWD in 1985, Herb Peyton offered Don Davis the position of Vice President of Corporate Relations, which he accepted.