Archibald “Archie” Kimbrough Davis was born in Winston-Salem in 1911. His parents were Dr. Thomas and Frances Conrad Davis.
Archie graduated from UNC with a degree in history, and after graduation he accepted a job at Wachovia Bank. Although his original plan was to pursue an international law degree at Princeton, his plans changed amid the tough financial times of the depression. He probably didn’t forsee that he would delay his formal education until after his retirement in 1974.
There is much to say about the many accomplishments of Mr. Davis and of his contributions to Winston-Salem and North Carolina. He began as a teller at Wachovia Bank and retired as Chairman of the Board and senior vice president of that bank. Between starting and retiring, he held many positions both at the bank, in Winston-Salem organizations, as trustee of several colleges, and in national organizations such the U. S. Chamber of Commerce.
The growth and success of the Research Triangle Park is attributed to his business acumen, as well as to his money-raising abilities.
His grandfather was a Civil War veteran, and he gained a fascination with Civil War history from listening to his stories as a child. He researched some of the men involved in the war and wrote books about them.
He was also interested in Moravian history, stemming from his mother’s Moravian background. He held several positions in Moravian organizations, such as the Wachovia Historical Society and the Moravian Archives. To honor his contribution to these organizations, the new Moravian Archives was named the Archie K. Davis Center. And, the Archie K. Davis Award is presented by the Wachovia Historical Society to an individual who has made significant contributions to regional and cultural history.
Mr. Davis was married to Mary Louise Haywood Davis, and they were parents to four children. At his death on March 13, 1998, an extensive article was written in the Winston-Salem Journal about Mr. Davis, that discusses his life, his career, his interests, his character, and his many accomplishments. Another informative article was written in the Winston-Salem Journal on November 26, 1989.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
