A Tribute to Dr. The Hon. Rae Davis

NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2021 11 TRIBUTE TO DR RAE DAVIS III D R THE Honourable Rae Anthony Davis was the quintessential ped- agogue. Born and nurtured in a family of high achievers, his parents in- stilled in him the incalculable value of a sound education and the obligation to make his own distinctive contribution to the building of a nation in which persons of our melanin would possess a sense of self-worth and racial pride. From humble beginnings in the plains of Clarendon, Rae Davis demonstrated his thirst andcapacity for learningatClarendon College and The University of the West Indies. He was a voracious reader and one whose passion for learning indicated that therewas no limit as towhat he could fully absorb toadvancehis intellectual prowess. His studies at LoughboroughUniversity in theUnitedKingdomand Johns Hopkins in the United States of America, gave him more than a jumpstart as an engineer and resulted in him earning the highest esteem of his professional colleagues. Those skills enabledhimtobe a teacher of class from Excelsior to the university’s Faculty of Engineering at the St Augustine campus. There is hardly any board relat- ing to human resource building where he did not serve – the HEART Trust, the National Council on Science&Technology, the Jamaica Association of Training & Development, to name but a few. He served ably as permanent secretary of theMinistry of Education. But teaching was his call andwhen the College of Arts, Science&Technology requiredanewpres- ident, hepromptly accepted the challenge. The competent engineer that he was, RaeDavis proceeded tobuildon the sound foundations which his predecessor, Dr Alfred Sangster, OJ, had so ably laid. His tenure there is best reflected inhismoving the institution to full university status, add- ing architecture and sports to the faculties. But for me, the crowning glory was his superb chairing of the Prime Minister’s Committee on Education Reform. It re- flected a vision of what our nation can achieve as effective competitors in the global market by the optimum devel- opment of our innate creative capacity. To his dear wife, Jemelia, his adoring children, stepchildren, grandchildren, family, colleagues and friends, I extend my heartfelt sympathy. Dr the Honourable Rae Anthony Davis, OJ, CD, JP, has ended his earthly journey, but his diligence, sacrifice, erudition and indelible contribution will serve as a last- ing testament of his dedication and inge- nuity in making Jamaica a better place. May his soul rest in peace. P.J. PATTERSON, ON, PC, QC Former Prime Minister 1996: Newly installed president of the University of Technology, Dr Rae Davis (right), being escorted on August 1, to the lobby of the administrative building by registrar, Dianne Mitchell, where he was warmly received by members of staff and department heads. August 1 was Dr Davis’ first day at work.