John R. Davis, born Feb. 14, 1918 in Richwood, WV, Author, Lecturer, Adjunct Professor, Founder and President of John R. Davis & Associates (a Security Firm in Chicago), died Friday, Dec. 29, 2006 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He is survived by his wife, Helen Lee Davis. They met while at the University of Alabama and were married in 1947. He leaves behind two sons and two daughters, Susan Smith, Lt. Colonel Helen Crouch, J.R. Davis and Thomas Ruff Davis and was preceded in death by daughter, Jennifer Lee Davis; and seven grandchildren. Davis was considered an authority in Forensic Science. He became well known in his field, and published his first book in 1957 on Industrial Plant Protection. His insight into forensics was shared with many in lectures to law enforcement around the world, and through a series of articles for various police publications. He began his career as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII, but a plane crash cut short his career expectations, and gave birth to his new profession as Chief Investigator with American Express. He was a graduate of Michigan State University, and after receiving his Master’s Degree from Loyola University Chicago, he founded his own Security Firm in 1951. His love for boating will always be remembered by his wife and five children as the best times of their lives. His perpetual desire to be at sea lured him back to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, where he spent his winters enjoying his ChrisCraft Yacht named “Polly Graf”. Davis’ professional memberships included: The American Academy of Forensic Science (Fellow/Retired); American Polygraph Association (Charter Member/Retired); and Academy for Scientific Interrogation. Visitation Saturday 10 a.m. until time of Service 12 noon at N.H. Scott & Hanekamp Funeral Homelocated at 1240 Waukegan Road, Glenview, IL (2 blocks south of Lake Avenue on west side). Interment Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jennifer Lee Davis Nursing Scholarship Fund, University of Alabama, Office of the President, P.O. Box 87000, 203 Rose Administration Bldg., Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35487. Funeral information, 847-998-1020.
