One of the most important mayors in the history of Morristown was C. Frank Davis. He was elected mayor eight times, first in 1951 and was last elected in 1969. It was during his years as mayor that Morristown began to grow from a little Southern town to the large town it is today. (However, I wish we were still just a little place.) Nevertheless, Davis' accomplishments and influence on the growth of Morristown can not be denied.
C. Frank Davis was born on his parent's farm in Hamblen County on October 5, 1908. His father was Dr. J. P. Davis, his mother being Ida Bell Lane Davis. He married the daughter of the minister of the First Baptist Church in Morristown, Miss Ruth Fox (August 6, 1908 - January 22, 1995). They had one son, who died soon after birth.
It seems that some people are born to be leaders. C. Frank Davis attended Morristown High School (which is today East High School) , where he was Captain of both the football and the basketball teams. From there he went on to attend Furman University, where he also was a quarterback on the college football team. He started his law practice in downtown Morristown in 1929 and kept his practice downtown throughout his career.
His administration as mayor acheived a great deal. The airport, the first industrial park, the overhead sidewalks (called for a long time the "World Famous Overhead Sidewalks"), public housing for the poor, the destruction of Rheatown (where the poor previously lived), and civil service protection for police and fire personnel are just some of his major accomplishments. He was President of the Kiwanis Club, member of the Chamber of Commerce, and member of about every lodge in town. Davis was also Chairman of the Hamblen County Commission for a number of years. He served as county attorney also for a number of years. C. Frank Davis died in December of 1987.
Mr. Davis and his wife lived next door to the First Baptist Church in Morristown in a beautiful circa 1896 home, which was torn down shortly after the death of Mrs. Davis.