Dexter Doctor Celebrates 85th Birthday, 60 Years In Profession

DEXTER - Dr. James E. Davis' recent 85th birthday, which coincided with his 60th year of medical practice, was made an extra special occasion when the doctor received some 500 congratulatory messages from persons in 46 states in the U. S. and four other countries.

An unusually active career in medicine, from training through practice and teaching, had led to countless friendships for Dr. Davis.

When the word went out that Dr. Davis would be honored simultaneously on his 85th birthday and 60th year of medical practice, the messages poured in - enough to fill two scrapbooks.

The messages came from Canada where Dr. Davis had received his early medical education, from doctors of the Wayne University Medical School where Dr. Davis has been a teacher for 25 years; from fellow students in Austria, France and Sweden, where Dr. Davis had studied; and from patients and former students.

Dr. Davis still continues a limited practice in Dexter although it was 1896, the year William McKinley was elected president of the U. S., that he was graduated from Wayne University with honors and winner of the Walker Prize in surgery.

He practiced in Detroit for nine years and specialized in obstetrics and gynecology for 10 years.

He took graduate studies at the University of Michigan and in 1915 was appointed professor of pathology and histology at Wayne.

From 1922 to 1943, Dr. Davis lived at 1825 Geddes Ave. in Ann Arbor.

He is a former president of the Wayne County Medical Society, president of the Alumni Association (Medical Department) of Wayne University, and founder of Pi Alpha Kappa Society at Wayne University.