area became much friendlier to Republicans in the 1960s, in part due to a massive crossover of white voters from the Democrats. As evidence of this growing influence, Davis barely held onto his seat in 1962, defeating his Republican challenger, former city councilman Ed Davis, by only 1,200 votes. This was particularly shocking considering that he had been unopposed for reelection two years earlier. In 1964, Davis lost the August Democratic primary to Shelby County legislator George W. Grider, a retired naval officer and fellow attorney. Unlike Davis, Grider had no past ties to the Crump machine. Davis did not return to Memphis full-time, but maintained a residence in Washington, D.C. where he resumed the practice of law until his death. Davis died on June 8, 1970, in Washington, D.C. He was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Memphis. Legacy The Clifford Davis Federal Building in Memphis was named after him. As of May 2, 2007, the "Clifford Davis Federal Building" is designated the "Clifford Davis and Odell Horton Federal Building." On December 9, 2021, the U.S. Senate voted to remove Clifford Davis' name from the Federal Building in Memphis due to his ties to the Ku Klux Klan. See also United States Congress members killed or wounded in office References Sources |- |- 1897 births 1970 deaths 20th-century American lawyers 20th-century American politicians American segregationists American shooting survivors Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee People from Hazlehurst, Mississippi Politicians from Memphis, Tennessee Tennessee lawyers University of Mississippi School of Law alumni