See Lawrence A. Davis YouTube video

When Lawrence was 14, he moved to Pine Bluff Arkansas to complete his secondary education at Merrill High School. He was valedictorian of his Merrill High School graduation class. He went on to earn a B.A. degree in English at Arkansas AM and N College, a Master’s degree in English at the University of Kansas, and a doctorate degree in higher education administration at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Lawrence Davis Sr. had appointments to several presidential commissions under the administrations of Presidents Truman, Johnson and Nixon.

Lawrence Davis Sr. was appointed president of Arkansas AM and N College in 1943. At only 28 years of age, he was the youngest college president in the country at the time. The College flourished during his tenure. His administration brought forth enrollment growth, physical plant expansion, and the first North Central Association accreditation. His civil community work included help to acquire funding for the Pine Bluff Civic Center and planning for the construction of The Pine Bluff Convention Center. Dr. Lawrence Davis Sr. served as president of Arkansas AM and N College for 30 years and became the first Chancellor of The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.