William Howe Davis (March 8, 1904 – August 18, 1982) was an American Democratic Party politician who served as Mayor of Orange, New Jersey, for 12 years.

He was the Director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control beginning in 1954 during the Administration of Governor Robert B. Meyner and as the first head of the state's Amusement Games Commission, starting in 1960.

He resigned in 1954 after Governor Robert B. Meyner appointed him to serve as the Director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

"[6][7] In December 1959, Davis made clear that he was looking to take on the role of regulating the state's amusement games, after being nominated for the position by Governor of New Jersey Robert B. Meyner, even though he would see no additional compensation beyond the $18,000 he already earned; David emphasized that the Alcoholic Beverage Control division had field offices in Asbury Park and Atlantic City, two of New Jersey's major seaside resorts, where most of the gaming machines were located, and that handling both jobs would result in a significant savings to the state.

[8] Confirmed by the New Jersey Senate in February 1960 to become the first head of the state's Amusement Games Commission, Howe was given what Billboard magazine described as a "powerful" role to "lay down any rulings he sees fit" in a market that was at the time one of the nation's largest for coin-operated amusement games as the country's major summertime seashore resort area.