primary to Tom Kleppe. In 1966, Davis was honored with the Sioux Award, the University of North Dakota Alumni Association's highest honor. Davis was elected The American Legion National Commander from 1966 to 1967, and was appointed Director of the Office of Civil Defense by President Richard Nixon in 1969. The agency was renamed in 1972 as the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency. Following his retirement in 1976, he was awarded the Department of Defense Service Medal. Later life In 1977, Davis returned to North Dakota to operate the family ranch and resume presidency of the First National Bank of McClusky. In 1978, he received the Greater North Dakota Award from the Greater North Dakota Association. Davis was active in many non-profit organizations, including the Elks, Masons, and the Scottish Rite and the Shrine. He died on May 12, 1990, in Rancho Mirage, California. He is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck, North Dakota. See also North Dakota's United States Senate special election, 1960 References Further reading "'It Was Easy to Get Involved': An Interview with Governor John E. Davis." Edited by Gerald G. Newborg. Gerald G. Newborg. North Dakota History.v70, n1 (2003): 2–25. External links John E. Davis at the National Governors Association John E. Davis Papers at the University of North Dakota 1913 births 1990 deaths 20th-century American politicians American Lutherans Burials in North Dakota Republican Party governors of North Dakota National Commanders of the American Legion Republican Party North Dakota state senators Mayors of places in North Dakota Recipients of the Silver Star University of North Dakota alumni People from Sheridan County, North Dakota 20th-century Lutherans United States Army personnel of World War II United States Army colonels