William B. Davis
Bill Davis graduated from George Washington Carver High School in Salem in 1944. He was a gifted student and taught music and directed the band as a part of his scholastic activities. He continued his education at Rutgers University and earned a B.A. degree in Sociology. He also received an M.A. degree in Anthropology from Boston University and a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and National Security from the National War College in Washington, D.C.
Bill was a career diplomat with the State Department for 28 years and retired as a Senior Foreign Service Officer with the personal rank of Counselor. During his career as a diplomat, he was given numerous assignments that included the following:
1 – Cultural Affairs Officer, American Embassy in Accra, Ghana, where he founded the Fulbright Commission in Ghana and directed Educational and Culture Affairs for the Embassy.
2- Cultural Affairs Officer, American Embassy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he founded the Fulbright Commission in Ethiopia and directed Educational and Cultural Affairs for the Embassy.
3- Counselor of Public Affairs, American Embassy in Conakry, Guinea, where he directed Educational and Cultural Affairs for the Embassy.
4 – Counselor of Public Affairs, American Embassy, Dakar, Senegal, where he directed Educational and Cultural Affairs for the Embassy; and
5 – Counselor for Public Affairs, American Embassy, Kingston, Jamaica, where he directed Educational and Cultural Affairs for the Embassy.
Bill taught for three years at the National War College and served as its Director of Media Studies. He also served as Western Press Spokesman for twelve NATO countries at the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction negotiations between NATO and Warsaw Pact countries meeting in Vienna, Austria. In Vienna, he conducted press conferences for the international press corps in English, French, German, and Russian. Other responsibilities included serving as Director of the prestigious Research and Educational Development American Exhibition in the former Soviet Union. Prior to joining the diplomatic corps, Bill served as a Russian Language Guide for the first American National Exhibition ever held in the Soviet Union. Early in his public service career, Bill spent nine years as a Federal Law Enforcement Agent, with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, the precursor of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In that capacity, he conducted criminal investigations throughout the United States and in France, Germany, Belgium and Holland. He worked with the Ministry of Justice in each country.
Bill has served as president of the United States Association for the Club of Rome, an international think tank dealing with environmental and life sustaining problems. Presently, he is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wisdom, Inc., a consulting firm providing seminars and briefings on cross cultural communications, foreign cultures, and foreign traditions. Bill is also a member of the national organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Former Federal Narcotics Agents, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, The World Future Society, People to People International, and a Life Member of the National War College Alumni Association. For outstanding service to the U.S. government, Bill received the Distinguished Service Award, Meritorious Honor Award, and Special Commendations.
Bill is widowed and lives in Potomac, Maryland. He has two children, Daryl D. Davis and Shjan Spooner.
In recognition of his outstanding career achievements, William B. Davis is inducted into the 2003 Salem Alumni Hall of Fame established by the Salem Educational Foundation and Alumni Association.
