Jerry W Davis

Davis, 65, and his wife, Judith, 67, pledged $21 million, of which $3 million has been paid in cash, to the University of Florida's Shands Cancer Center in Gainesville. Of the total committed, they have directed $20 million toward research and $1 million to support the center's hospital. The remaining $18 million will be paid out over the next nine years in annual increments of $2 million. Both of the Davises are cancer survivors. Davis was treated at the Shands Center and serves on the board of directors of Shands HealthCare. He earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from the university in 1968. In addition, the couple gave $1 million to the Tennessee Tech School of Nursing, in Cookeville. The money will support scholarships for 10 students each year who are from Oneida, Tenn., Judith Davis' hometown. Jerry Davis also serves on the boards of the University of Florida Foundation and the University of Florida Investment Corp., both in Gainesville, and the First Jax Foundation in Jacksonville. Both Davises serve on the board of the Tennessee Tech Foundation. Jerry is a 1968 graduate of UF’s College of Journalism and Communications