[3] Davis began his career as a criminal investigator with the United States Department of the Treasury, serving from 1949 to 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma.

Davis also served as a part-time law instructor and assistant director at United States Treasury Police training school in Washington, D.C., from 1953 to 1961.

Davis retired from federal service in 1978, and began working as an executive of trade associations in the alcoholic beverage industry.

[4] He served as president of the National Association of Beverage Importers and chief executive of New Europe Wines.

In 1984, Davis testified before the United States House Committee on Ways and Means about the market expansion for American-produced wines.