Paul
Davis was a journalist and public relations specialist who often put his talents to work for causes and political candidates he believed in.
"I remember Paul as an aide to
Mayor Harold Washington," said the Rev. Paul Jakes Jr., who met Mr. Davis when both were working on Washington's mayoral campaign. Washington was Chicago's mayor from 1983 until his death in 1987.
Jakes said Mr. Davis was competent, bright and very tenacious, even as a young man. "He showed a great sense of wisdom as he continued to serve the people of the city of Chicago and the mayor," Jakes said.
Mr. Davis, 55, died of
prostate cancer Saturday, May 12, in the
Chatham neighborhood home where he grew up, according to his mother, Shirley.
Mr. Davis attended what was then Hirsch High School in Chicago and went on to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, where his mother said he studied journalism.
"He came out of college and started with us," said William Garth Sr., publisher and chief executive of Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group Inc., which publishes community newspapers for Chicago's South and West sides and south suburbs.
Mr. Davis worked as a general assignment reporter but left with Garth's blessing to work with then-U.S. Rep. Harold Washington as he prepared to run for mayor of Chicago. "He was in love with politics," Garth said.
Mr. Davis helped handle press duties for Washington, according to friend Deborah Douglas, and worked on Washington's mayoral campaign.
U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis, who is no relation, was a friend of Mr. Davis' father and recalled running into the younger Davis about that time. "He was riding around with and working for Harold sort of as a press aide," said Davis, a Democrat who represents Illinois' 7th District.
"Paul was an idealistic young person involved in politics and social action, and he kept that idealism and exuberance all the way up to the time he became ill," Davis said.
Jakes, who lost toRichard M. Daleyin the 2003 mayoral election, said he and Mr. Davis teamed up on issues beyond politics, including fighting to keep open a neighborhood school that was to be closed, and working with radio stations to eliminate profane and inappropriate song lyrics, at least at times when youngsters might be listening.
"We worked hard to help save our community," Jakes said.
After Washington was elected mayor, Mr. Davis worked for the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, first as assistant superintendent of forestry and from late 1986 to mid-1989 as general superintendent of forestry.
"With his background in media, we all thought it was somewhat amusing,"
Danny Davis said. "We all said Paul Davis would do anything for Harold Washington. Some of us expected to see him out cutting down trees."
In the late 1980s, Mr. Davis returned to the Citizen Newspaper Group as managing editor, holding the post for a couple of years before focusing on public relations. He continued to work in political campaigns and on community issues as a public relations specialist, both in his own firm and for other companies.
Mr. Davis established his own firm, First Trace Communications Inc., in the 1990s, according to Douglas.
"Paul was very committed to the community and with helping others become better public relations professionals," said David Rudd, president of the Black Public Relations Society of Chicago. Mr. Davis was active in the organization and had been its president from about 2000 to 2005.
"He kind of walked in both worlds," Rudd said, "as both a journalist and someone who was a trusted adviser to people running for office."
Mr. Davis, whose father died in 2008, is also survived by a sister, Cheryl Lynn Davis, and two brothers, Michael and Glenn.
Services were held.
