He is credited with greatly growing the institution in his 27 years and was named vice president of the university from 1920 to 1922.

Eugene Davenport was born on June 20, 1856, on a farm in Barry County, Michigan, near Woodland.

However, Davenport left in April 1892 to study at the Rothamsted Experimental Station in Harpenden, England.

Davenport secured funds from outside sources to provide for faculty, and Draper finally relented to allow hiring in the summer of 1896 with Perry Greeley Holden and Wilber J.

This was followed by Education for Efficiency in 1909, where he argued for teaching home economics and agriculture in public school.

[1] The connections that Davenport made during the war helped to provide more funds and influence for the college.

In 1920, Davenport was named vice president of the university, a position he held until his retirement two years later.

Davenport was the only member of the Michigan Convention to Ratify the 21st Amendment (repealing prohibition) to vote against it.