D. Jack Davis

Donald Jack “Jack” Davis was born May 17, 1938, to S.E. Davis and Oleta Fannie Kearby Davis near Canton, Texas. His family owned and operated a grocery, feed, and fertilizer business southeast of Canton before expanding into farming and cattle operations in Smith and Van Zandt counties.

A 1956 graduate of Canton High School, Jack was the first in his family to attend college. He earned a B.A. in Art and Education from Baylor University in 1959, followed by an M.A. in Education in 1961. While completing his graduate studies and teaching in Waco public schools, he met Gail Comer, the love of his life. They married on June 2, 1962, and remained devoted to one another for over 63 years.

Together, they moved to Minnesota, where Jack completed his Ph.D. in Art Education in 1966. They returned to Texas soon after, where Jack began his academic career at Texas Tech University. 

In 1971, Jack joined the University of North Texas, where he held numerous leadership roles throughout a 40-year career. These included Director of Graduate Studies in Art (1971–76), Chair of the Department of Art (1976–83), Vice Provost (1983–93), and Founding Dean of the School of Visual Arts — now the College of Visual Arts and Design (1993–2004). He also served as co-director and director of the North Texas Institute for Educators on the Visual Arts (1990–2011). Throughout his career, Jack authored more than 50 publications and presented over 100 papers at professional conferences.

A committed leader in his field, Jack was a lifetime member of the National Art Education Association, where he served on the board, chaired the Higher Education Division (1973–75), and was honored with multiple awards, including the following.

• Distinguished Fellow (1989)
• Lowenfeld Award (1990)
• National Art Educator of the Year (2005)
• Service Within the Profession Award (2010)
• Eisner Lifetime Achievement Award (2024)

He was a lifetime member of the Texas Art Education Association, where he served as president (1987–89), was named Texas Art Educator of the Year (1990), and was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow (1993).

Additional honors include the Community Arts Recognition Award from the Greater Denton Arts Council (2006), as well as recognition from the Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Council of Art Administrators, the International Council of Fine Arts Deans, and the Center for the Advancement and Study of Early Texas Art, which awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.

In retirement, Jack continued his scholarly pursuits and collecting interests, focusing on antique English and American silver, as well as Native American baskets, especially those from Southwestern tribes and Texas artists. He had a special passion for women artists based in Denton. His research contributed to several chapters in "Making the Unknown Known: Women in Early Texas Art, 1860s–1960s."

Jack was known for his warmth, storytelling, and joy in entertaining — traits that shone especially during his retirement years in Fort Worth’s Westbriar neighborhood and at Trinity Terrace retirement community.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Gail; his parents, S.E. and Oleta Davis; his brother and sister-in-law, LaVerne and Glynn “Bo” Davis; and a niece, Paula Davis. He is survived by his son, Paul (Colleen); grandchildren, Jacob, Reid, and Hannah; nieces, Melinda Jones (Joe) and Cindy Dumas (Vince); nephews-in-law, Bob (Linley) Scott and Greg (Robin) Scott; niece-in-law, Anne Scott; and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

The family requests that memorials be made to the D. Jack and Gail C. Davis Dean’s Excellence Endowment in the College of Visual Arts and Design at the University of North Texas.