Samuel Davis (Canadian politician)

Canadian politician (1914–1996)

Samuel Davis

70th Mayor of Saint John
In office
1977–1980
Preceded by| Edis A. Flewwelling
Succeeded by| Bob Lockhart
Personal details
Born| 1914 (1914)
Died| 1996(1996-00-00) (aged 81–82)
Spouse| Gladys (née Wiezel) Davis
Alma mater| University of New Brunswick
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.E., 1939)

Samuel Davis (1914–1996) was a Canadian engineer and municipal politician who served as the 70th mayor of Saint John, New Brunswick from 1977 to 1980. He was first elected as a Saint John City Council member in 1969, and elected as mayor in 1977. He was the first Jewish mayor of Saint John.

## Life and career

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Samuel Davis was born in 1914, in Saint John, New Brunswick. His family immigrated to the city.[1] He was educated at the Saint John High School, from which he graduated and began attending vocational school to study motor mechanics. He went on to attend the University of New Brunswick (UNB), where he received an honorary degree,[2] and moved on to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received his Master of Engineering in 1939.[1] He was employed at UNB as a civil engineer,[2] and worked during World War II as an aeronautical engineer.[2] Additionally, Davis ran a shoe store on King Street called Wiezel's,[3] named after the maiden name of his wife, Gladys (née Wiezel) Davis.[1]

Davis would first serve as a school board member,[2] and was first elected as a Saint John City Council member in 1969.[4] On 11 May 1977, Davis was elected as Mayor of Saint John after defeating the incumbent Edis A. Flewwelling.[5] At the time, he served on the Board of Governors of UNB.[2] Davis was additionally the first Jewish mayor in Saint John.[4]

In 1979, Davis presented awards for Fred Hodges, Saint John's first visible minority councilor and civil rights and labour activist.[6] during a dinner in his honouring. Davis was defeated in the 1980 election by Bob Lockhart.[7] He continued to serve as a councilor until at least 1989.[8]

## Personal life and death

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In 1940, Davis became married to his wife, Gladys Wiezel.[9] Davis died in 1996.[1] He is one of multiple notable Jewish community members displayed in the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum.[10] In 2005, Davis' son, Gary Davis, established the Gladys and Samuel Davis Fund.[1]

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e Mullen, Mike (18 November 2005). "Young people to benefit from new fund honouring Samuel and Gladys Davis; 'It's the right thing to do,' says son Gary, in encouraging others to follow his example of philanthrophy". Telegraph-Journal. ProQuest 423252902. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
2. ^ a b c d e Davis, Gary (22 September 2007). "An alternate proposal". Telegraph-Journal. ProQuest 423280703. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
3. ^ Landry, Mike (10 June 2014). "Remembering a cottage industry near Grand Bay". Telegraph-Journal. ProQuest 1534217390. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
4. ^ a b "Chapter 9 – Reaching Beyond Saint John: Notable Jews from Saint John". communitystories.ca. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
5. ^ "Saint John elects new mayor". The Canadian Press. The Gazette. 11 May 1977. p. 2. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
6. ^ "Black leader honored". The Canadian Press. The Standard. 22 October 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
7. ^ Gray, Davis (4 January 1999). "Market Square: The untold story". Telegraph-Journal. ProQuest 423067667. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
8. ^ Cleaves, Herb (5 June 1989). "Steam engine wins hearts in Maine, Canada". The Bangor Daily News. p. 23. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
9. ^ Davis, Sandra (7 July 2009). "New home fits Jewish museum". Telegraph-Journal. ProQuest 423358426. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
10. ^ "Museum promotes tolerence". Telegraph-Journal. 7 December 2009. ProQuest 423344883. Retrieved 28 April 2024.

Political offices

Preceded by

Edis A. Flewwelling

|  Mayor of Saint John
1977–1980  | Succeeded by

Bob Lockhart