Most Worshipful Brother Herbert A. Davis was born on August 2, 1897, at Colorado Springs, Colorado. He attended grade school and high school at Colorado Springs, and later graduated from high school at Burley, Idaho, in 1916. Upon graduation from high school he was admitted to Stanford University, graduating and receiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and continuing his education at Stanford he received the degree of Juris Doctor in 1923.
Professionally he was admitted to the State Bars of California and Washington the year of his graduation from Law School. In addition, he was now a member of the Okanogan County Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He served as Prosecuting Attorney of Okanogan County from 1926 to 1930 and from 1934 to 1938. He had been City Attorney of the City of Okanogan continuously since 1931 with leave of absence granted during his military service. The position was kept open for him until his return, and he served the City of Okanogan until his passing.
His record in the military service of our country was outstanding. He was a veteran of both World Wars. He was a Reserve Officer from 1921, first in the Field Artillery and then in the Air Corps. He retired in 1956 with the rank of Major. As a loyal American and demonstrating his love of country he was active in the affairs of the American Legion, and again his worth and ability were recognized, first as a member of the Okanogan Post and then when he held various offices on the Post, District and Department levels. He was chosen as Department Commander in 1949-1950.
In 1929 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth C. Clark. Elizabeth has been a real partner sharing with him the many inconveniences of absences from home due to his professional, military, youth, community, and Masonic services. Though no children were born to this union, our good brother was deeply interested in the welfare of the nation's youth, and gave much of his time to the Boy Scouts of America. He advanced from Troop Committeeman to Scout Master, District Chairman and Council President.In 1936 he received from the national office the highest council honor, the Silver Beaver. From 1954-1955 he was president of the North Central Washington Council Boy Scouts of America. He was selected as a member of the Regional Executive Committee and attended the membership meeting at Boise, Idaho, in 1959. He was a member of the National Council, and attended the national meeting in San Francisco in 1959. His contribution to the program of Scouting was sincere and effective.
He was also active and a leader in the affairs of his community at large: First Aid Instructor and Director of the American Red Cross, County Chairman of three U.S.O. drives, County Chairman of two Crusades for Freedom, County Chairman for Civil Defense, Chairman of the County Planning Commission, President of the Okanogan Chamber of Commerce, Trustee of the Omak Memorial Hospital, and Trustee of his Presbyterian Church.
He has been equally active in Freemasonry in which service he has been most loyal. His Masonic affiliations are almost all-inclusive. He was Initiated, Passed, and Raised in Tonasket Lodge No. 220, in 1928. He transferred his membership to Okanogan Lodge No. 169, in 1932 and served as Master in 1936. He was District Deputy under Most Worshipful Brothers Charles. P. Kirtland, John A. Emigh and Matthew W. Hill.
He served on the Grand Lodge Jurisprudence Committee for three years, and on the Grievance and Appeals Committee for two years. He was Grand Orator in 1950. He was elected as Junior Grand Warden at the 1953 Communication at Spokane and served successively as Senior Grand Warden, Deputy Grand Master and Installed as Grand Master at the 1956 Grand Lodge Communication at Kennewick – the first to be elected from Okanogan County.
Additional Masonic and concordant memberships include Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281, Wenatchee Consistory Scottish Rite; Okanogan Chapter No. 41, Royal Arch Masons; Royal and Select Masters; Chas. B. Reed Council, No. 14, Wenatchee; Okanogan Valley Commandary, Knights Templar; El Katif Temple (Shrine), Spokane; The National Sojourners and St. Raphael Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, Spokane.
Our Past Grand Master, in apparent good health, died suddenly at home on the 9th day of November in 1959. As an enduring legacy, Most Worshipful Herbert Davis and his wife, Elizabeth, left a trust fund of $300,000 to Okanogan Lodge No. 169 with the stipulation that the money generated through interest and investments be used “for the benefit of the youth of Okanogan County and other charitable purposes.” In addition, a grant program has been established through the fund that will provide money for “imaginative projects and programs” operated by non-profit organizations that benefit the county’s citizens.