Born in St. Louis, Dwight Davis (1879–1945) attended the city’s prestigious Smith Academy, which opened its doors the same year Davis was born. Smith Academy was founded as a feeder school for St. Louis’s Washington University. Davis, who excelled in his studies and in sports, chose to attend Harvard University rather than Washington, and it was a decision that would have a significant impact on the world of sports.
While attending Harvard, Davis played on the school’s tennis team. He actually did more than play—he dominated. In 1899, the left-hander claimed both the intercollegiate singles and doubles championships. He won the U.S. National Men’s Doubles Championship three straight years (1899–1901) with Holcombe Ward, one of the best tennis players of the era, who is credited with developing the twist serve. From 1898 to 1901, Davis was ranked among the country’s top 10 tennis players, reaching as high as No. 2 in 1899 and 1900.
An International Idea
Davis and three others, which included Ward, proposed the idea of an international tennis competition. With the blessing of the U.S. Lawn Tennis Association (the word Lawn was later dropped), Davis proposed their idea to the British Lawn Tennis Association. The two sides agreed to compete in the first International Lawn Tennis Challenge the following year.The format of the competition was Davis’s brainchild. The three-day event would witness singles challenges on Day 1 and 3, and doubles challenges on Day 2. The event was held on Aug. 8 to Aug. 10, 1900, at Longwood Cricket Club in Boston. The Americans swept the matches 3-0 and won the trophy—a beautiful silver bowl that Davis had purchased with his own money.
Over time, the International Lawn Tennis Challenge experienced only a few changes. The competition grew from two competing nations to more than 20 countries by the 1920s, 50 countries by 1969, 100 countries in 1993, and more than 150 countries as of 2023. There have been changes to the formats of play, such as groupings; and, as expected, various nations have won the championship over its 124-year period. The biggest change, however, was the competition’s name. The International Lawn Tennis Challenge was changed to the Davis Cup, in honor of Davis, although when that change happened isn’t clear.
The world’s greatest tennis players have competed throughout the Davis Cup’s history, including Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic.
Politics, Parks, and … Tennis
After graduating from Harvard in 1900, he chose to study law. But rather than attending Harvard, he returned home and attended Washington University. He graduated with a law degree in 1903, but never opened a legal practice. (Impressively, in 1904, he competed in the Olympic Games which were held in St. Louis. He lost in the second round.) Instead of practicing law, he chose to go into public service. His love of tennis, though, would influence some of his decisions.
War and Secretary of War
When World War I broke out, Davis joined the Missouri Army National Guard and received training at a Preparedness Movement Citizens’ Military Training Camp. When America entered the war, Davis fought in France as a major and adjutant of the 69th Infantry Bridge in the 35th Infantry Division. He was part of the bloodiest military campaign in American history: the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. For his service during the war, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. France also awarded him with their highest decoration: the French Legion of Honor.After the war, he made a run for the Senate, but lost. He was then appointed to the War Finance Corporation (WFC), a government agency created to provide financial assistance for essential war industries and the banking institutions that helped those industries. The WFC was founded during the war and lasted until 1939. From that position, he was promoted to assistant secretary of war during the Harding Administration.
When Harding unexpectedly died in office in August of 1923, Vice President Calvin Coolidge became president. Coolidge also won the 1924 election. After Coolidge’s Secretary of War John Weeks resigned due to health concerns, Coolidge tabbed Davis to be his secretary of war (a cabinet position now known as the secretary of defense). He held this position from 1925 to 1929.
The Philippines and WWII
After his time as secretary of war, the new president, Herbert Hoover, appointed him governor general of the Philippines. At the time, the island chain was still a U.S. territory. Davis maintained this position from 1929 to 1932.When America became involved in World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt signed an executive order creating the Army Specialist Corps “for the purpose of obtaining the temporary services of certain qualified civilian employees for the War Department.” Davis became the first and only director general, as the Corps was disbanded after several months. Davis then became an Army advisor with the rank of major general.
Davis’s impact internationally was profound—from tennis to politics to war. His name is remembered for what is “now the world’s largest annual international team competition in sport.” He should also be remembered for his brave and honorable service to his country.
