Gary L. Davis

    National 4-H Council
    2007

    Chairman, National 4-H Council Board of Trustees Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources and Administration Officer, J.C. Penney

    Beaver, Jackson Co., Ohio

    Gary Davis was born in 1942 and lived on a farm in Jackson County, Ohio. After graduating from Ohio University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1964, he joined the J.C. Penney Company as a management trainee in Marietta, OH. During his 41+ year career, he worked in four stores before being appointed store manager in Bridgeville, PA, in 1978. He went on to hold assignments as district manager in Pittsburgh and corporate assignments in New York as Director of Personnel, Director of Geographic Markets and Director of Coordination. In 1992 he was promoted to President of the Northwest Region, headquartered in Chicago, with responsibility over 400 stores in 21 states.

    Gary returned to the executive offices in Dallas as Sr. Vice President in 1996 and became Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources and Administration Officer in 1998, providing overall leadership and direction to the human resources, organizational development, communications, public affairs, executive coordination and services until retirement in 2005. Davis joined the Texas 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees in 1988. He was elected to the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees in 1996, Vice Chair in 1999 and Chair in 2002. His leadership was influential in establishing 4-H AfterSchool.

    Quote

    With the objective of a better future for tomorrow for all, our focus must continue to be on our children, families and communities. Over 7 million youth in America have discovered 4-H as the youth development organization of choice to improve their knowledge and leadership skills. As leaders of the 4-H movement, we must build on and increase those numbers. We must be unwavering in our investment in high quality programs, sufficient resources and appropriate time to help all children unlock and reach the true power of their potential and capitalize on the Power of Youth. 4-H has been and will continue to be the organization best equipped to delliver these valuable components to our children and our future.

    My 4-H Story