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The University of Arizona Law James E. Rogers College of Law will honor Richard Davis (’72), Ann Kirkpatrick (’79) and Gordon Waterfall (’65) with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are selected by faculty for their distinguished and exemplary careers, contributions to the legal profession, support for public causes and law reform, and commitment to the pursuit of justice.
This week, we introduce Richard Davis, though he needs no introduction to many of you.
Richard Davis, Class of 1972
Known for his legal acumen, integrity and professionalism, Richard Davis is recognized as one of the top trial lawyers in the United States. Consistently listed in Best Lawyers in America, Richard began with Chandler Tullar Udall and Richmond but spent most of his legal career with Mesch Clark and Rothschild. In 1989, he became the first African American in the state of Arizona to be inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Richard was born and raised in Miami, Florida. After graduating from George Washington Carver High School, he served a tour of duty in the United States Air Force before attending the University of Arizona, where he studied Political Science. He earned his Juris Doctor from University of Arizona Law in 1972.
During college, Richard was a founder and the first president of both the Black Student Union and the Zeta Theta Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He was also a founder of the University of Arizona’s New Start Program which offers students an opportunity to get a head start on their college degree while getting to know the campus and meeting new people.
Throughout his career, Richard has provided more than just legal services to those in need. He has served the Tucson community as a public speaker, mentor, and teacher. He currently is a member of the Southern Arizona African American Museum and the University of Arizona’s President’s Black Community Council. His many public service activities in the past include membership on the boards of Southern Arizona Legal Aid, YMCA, YWCA, United Way of Tucson, Tucson Urban League, Tucson Community Foundation and Tucson Airport Authority. In 2002, Richard was honored as Father of the Year by the Tucson Father’s Day Council, and in 2022 he was inducted into the University of Arizona’s Order of Omega Greek Hall of Fame.
Richard is supported in all of his professional and community activities by his wife of 53 years Doreen D. Davis. Together they share two children and three grandchildren.
See below for information on the Lifetime Achievement Awards and other Homecoming events.
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