In addition to holding Robert E. Lee in highest esteem and being founded in the south following the Civil War, the Phi Mu Fraternity and KA both seek to help their members realize their fullest potential in life and to be leaders in their communities and chosen fields of endeavor. Phi Mu, like KA, stresses the biblical concept of “to whom much has been given, much is expected.” So, it only seemed natural to former Councilor Don Davis (Epsilon Alpha ‘77) and his wife, Dr. Beth Davis, both graduates of the University of South Alabama to establish a leadership award benefiting their respective collegiate chapters. The Davis Leadership Award, endowed through the KAOEF, is the first of its kind in KA.
The Davis Leadership Award seeks to identify and recognize outstanding “rising” undergraduate leaders within the two organizations and to provide an early opportunity of leadership training to these persons. Hopefully, the early leadership training will enhance the leadership skills of the persons chosen and help make them better leaders within their respective chapters and at the University of South Alabama.
Since retiring as a councilor in 1999, Don Davis has become the judge of probate in Mobile County, Ala. Don and Beth have been very active participants in their church and other civic and charitable organizations in the Mobile community for many years. Both of them have served as leaders in a number of these organizations. The opportunities of leadership and service for both of them have expanded since Don became a judge. They attribute much of their leadership skills and attributes they possess to the lessons they learned in their Phi Mu and KA chapters. These organizations’ emphasis on helping the less fortunate resonated with their religious beliefs. The couple also recognized that a good education is the key to success in life and they are thankful for the educational opportunities afforded to them at the University of South Alabama and by their respective sorority and fraternity.
During the course of Don’s active leadership within the Order, the KAOEF established the means for persons to establish endowed scholarships through the KAOEF over a five year period of time. The ability to endow the fund over time appealed to the Davises, who readily admit that if they had been required to make a large one-time endowment payment, the award would probably still be a dream, instead of a reality. Don said, “We are like most young professionals, we have children, plenty of business and personal debt. Endowing the award over a five year period of time was an easier goal to attain.”
According to Don, “We see this as a win-win situation. We are helping collegiate Kappa Alphas and Phi Mus at our school become more effective leaders at an earlier stage in their collegiate years. We are helping these persons be the best they can be and to realize their fullest potential in life.”
Beth noted that the award is also designed to “help expand and enhance the student leadership pool of the chapters and the university.” Of equal importance, however to the couple is the fact that “the award enables them, in a small way, to give back to some of the things they cherish the most and have meant the most to them - their university, their collegiate chapters and ultimately the Mobile community.”
(PHOTO: Dr. Beth Davis and Don Davis congratulate Jessica Walker and Ryan Watt, recipients of the Davis Leadership Award. photo courtesy of the University of South Alabama)
You can recognize our young leaders:
For information on establishing a leadership award through the KAOEF, contact Ethan Bush or Stewart Harvey, (540) 463-1865.
