Born March 22, 1927, William Davis graduated from Media High School in Media, Pennsylvania in 1945. He served two years with the Fifth Army Air Force before entering Dickinson College with the class of 1951 in September 1947.  While at the College, he was a member of the varsity football team.

Davis left Dickinson in June 1950, and, after working for a time with the Sun Oil Company, re-enlisted in the Army in September, 1951.  He was killed in an aerial collision over San Antonio, Texas later that year.