Dick Davis (politician)

Dick Davis
Davis, circa 1984
34th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
In office
January 16, 1982  January 18, 1986
GovernorChuck Robb
Preceded byChuck Robb
Succeeded byDouglas Wilder
Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia
In office
June 14, 1985  May 10, 1986
Preceded byAlan Diamonstein
Succeeded byLarry Framme
In office
1979–1980
Preceded byJoseph T. Fitzpatrick
Succeeded byOwen B. Pickett
Mayor of Portsmouth, Virginia
In office
1974–1980
Preceded byJack P. Barnes
Succeeded byJulian E. Johansen
Personal details
Born
Richard Joseph Davis Jr.

(1921-08-07)August 7, 1921
Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
DiedMarch 4, 1999(1999-03-04) (aged 77)
Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Martha Whitfield
Lori Collins
Alma materCollege of William & Mary
University of Virginia
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service1942–1946
1950–1952
RankMajor
Battles/warsWorld War II
Korean War

Richard Joseph Davis Jr. (August 7, 1921 March 4, 1999) was an American politician who was the 34th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 1982 to 1986 serving under Governor Chuck Robb. A former mayor of Portsmouth, Virginia, Davis' 1981 election as Lieutenant Governor saw him win 8 of the 10 Congressional Districts composing Virginia in 1981; his statewide margin of victory over Republican state senator Nathan H. Miller was 150,000 votes. Davis was the first Catholic elected to a statewide office in Virginia history.