The Rev. France A. Davis was born and reared on a Gough, Georgia farm to John H. and Julia Davis.  After high school, he attended Tuskegee Institute and later became an Air force jet mechanic.  He later earned degrees in Afro-American Studies from Merritt College; Arts and Humanities from Laney College; Rhetoric from University of California at Berkeley; Religion and Philosophy from Westminster College; Master of Mass Communication from the University of Utah; and Master of Ministry from Northwest Nazarene College.

            He came to Salt Lake City in 1972 as a teaching fellow and graduate student.  He was appointed instructor in communication and ethnic studies courses, earning a distinguished teacher award, and continues to teach in the University of Utah’s Honors and Ethnic Studies Program as Adjunct Associate Professor.

            He was licensed in 1966 and ordained in 1971 for ministry.  Presently, Rev. Davis is, and has been since 1974, the full time pastor of the historic Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of Salt Lake City, Utah.

            He lectures widely on cultural and religious topics.  He also serves on community and national boards including the Salt Lake Housing Authority, Career Service Council, and the Salt Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau.  He has received numerous awards including an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from the University of Utah in 1993, Salt Lake Community College in 1997, Dixie State College in 2002, the T. K. McCarthey Silver Hope Award from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 2006, an official citation from the Utah House of Representatives in recognition of outstanding service to his community, state and nation in 2006 and was appointed as a member to the Salt Lake Community College Board of Trustees by Governor Huntsman in 2007.  Rev. Davis just recently published (October, 2006) his second book, “France Davis:  An American Story Told.”