W. R. Davies

William R. Davies
W. R. Davies in 1946
President of the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
In office January 1, 1941 – December 10, 1959
Preceded by	Harvey Schofield (1916–1940)
Succeeded by	Leonard Haas (1959–1980)
Personal details
Born	August 19, 1893 Tenino, Washington, United States
Died	December 10, 1959(1959-12-10) (aged 66) Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States
Spouse(s)	Erva Barron (1920–1942) Delpha Olson Smith (1944–1959)
Children	Kathryn Mae Davies Dorothy Jane Reish Robert Barron Davies
Alma mater	Ripon College University of Wisconsin–Madison

William Robert Davies (August 19, 1893 in Tenino, Washington – December 10, 1959 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin) was a Wisconsin educator who was named the second president of Eau Claire State Teachers College in December 1940. Major accomplishments during his tenure (1941–1959) include the establishment of the faculty senate, student government and the University Foundation; creation of The Forum, one of the oldest continuous lecture series in the country; the first addition of academic buildings since the founding of the school in 1916; building of the first residence halls, student center and library; acquisition of the 230-acre Putnam Park; purchase of 48 acres of land for an upper campus; the first accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools; and the first bachelor and liberal arts degrees.

William Robert Davies was born August 19, 1893, in Tenino, Washington. He was the third son of David and Sarah Davies, pioneer settlers of Welsh ancestry who had moved to Washington from Wisconsin. His family returned to Wisconsin, to a farm near Cambria in Columbia County, when Davies was four years old. He graduated from Cambria High School in 1911, and entered Ripon College with a major in mathematics and philosophy. Davies received his bachelor of arts degree in 1915, and in 1921 received his master's degree in education at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He took additional courses in education at Columbia University, the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota.

Davies began his teaching career in 1915, as the assistant principal of the Endeavor Academy, a private Congregational school in Marquette County. In September 1917 Davies joined the YMCA staff at Camp Custer in Michigan, and in November he enlisted in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. In April 1919 he was discharged as a sergeant first class; he was later commissioned as a reserve first lieutenant and remained in the reserve forces until 1930.