Russell H. Davis

Russell H. Davis, Class of 1920. Mr.. Davis earned an A.B. degree in Education from Western Reserve College. He Received the B.S. degree (Chemical Engineering) in 1922 from the Case Institute of Technology. He played both football and basketball with the Western Reserve teams. After working for five years in industrial chemical engineering, Mr.. Davis received the first African-American male teacher appointed in a secondary school system (1928). Following that, he held several principalships in the Cleveland school system, including Harry E. David Junior High (named after his brother). In 1967, Mr.. Davis was elected to the State Board of Education and served 18 years as a trustee of the Family Service Association. He also served as a trustee and treasurer of Cleveland’s Karamu House, a historical African-American Théâtre and cultural center.