The following biographical sketch was compiled at the time of induction into the Academy in 1999 and 2002.

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J. Mason Davis, Jr. was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on July 30, 1935, the son of J. Mason Davis and Madeliene Harris Davis.

Mr. Davis began his education at Tuggle School and A. H. Parker High School in Birmingham and then attended Talladega College where he received an A.B. degree with highest honors. After graduating from the State University of New York School of Law as a member of the Law Review, he returned to Birmingham and began his law practice in 1960.

In 1971, Mr. Davis became a member of the Birmingham Bar Association. Three years later, he was elected to its executive committee and was elected its president in 1984. He has also served on the Alabama Board of Bar Commissioners. In 1984, Mr. Davis joined the law firm of Sirote and Permutt. He was also the first minority adjunct professor at the University off Alabama School of Law, where he taught insurance and damages from 1972-1997. From the time he returned to Birmingham to the present, Mr. Davis has been a diligent and successful leader in the fight to guarantee civil rights for all of Alabama's citizens.

Mr. Davis has served on the boards of numerous civic and governmental organizations, including the American Red Cross, Leadership Birmingham, the University of Alabama at Birmingham President's Council, and the National Conference of Community and Justice. He has also served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Talladega College. He chaired the annual United Way Campaign and the capital campaign of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. He is past president of the Birmingham Kiwanis Club and the Friends of the Alabama Archives. Mr. Davis has served as chairman of the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce and is chairman of the United Way of Central Alabama.

Presently Mr.Davis serves on the Board of Directors of Energen and is chairman of the Board of Directors of Protective Industrial Insurance Company of Alabama. He has also served on the Board of Directors of Bruno's, Rust International, the Southern Research Intstitute, and the UAB Research Foundation.

J. Mason Davis, Jr. is married to June Fox Davis, and they have two adult children, Karen Madeline Davis and J. Mason Davis, III.

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