Remembering Mason Davis
We at the Johnson Institute are saddened to learn of the passing of Mason Davis, a valued member of the Johnson Institute community. Since joining the Board of Directors in 2021, Mr. Davis brought to our work deep knowledge of Alabama and a lifetime of experience that enriched every conversation he joined.
I had the privilege of hearing Mr. Davis reflect on his life and career on two occasions as part of the Institute’s Oral History Project. Each time, he offered not just recollections, but a perspective that connected his personal experience to broader moments of change in Alabama and the United States.
The first interview, conducted in 2022 in recognition of Law Day, captured Mr. Davis in his element. Interviewed by Birmingham City Schools teacher Brittany Hamner in his law office, Mr. Davis spoke candidly about his career and the evolution of the legal landscape he witnessed. The year’s theme, “The Constitution in Times of Change,” could not have been more fitting. His reflections resonated beyond the room to reach students and teachers across the country.
In 2024, I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Davis again—this time to explore his family history. What began as a casual conversation during a Board meeting led to a remarkable connection: Percy Julian, the pioneering chemist from Montgomery for whom a high school had been named, was his cousin.
Both interviews stand as lasting reminders of a life well lived. I hope you will take time to watch them and hear directly from Mr. Davis in his own words.
–Thomas Rains