Washington State University alumnus Gordon Davis (’69, Agricultural Science, Agricultural Education) was recognized this summer by the American Meat Science Association for leadership and contributions to the science of meat.
The Association honored Davis with its 2020 Industry & Organizational Leadership Award, Aug. 6, at the virtual 66th International Congress of Meat Science and Technology and AMSA’s 73rd Reciprocal Meat Conference. The award is sponsored by Smithfield Foods, Inc.
An animal sciences teacher, coach, and successful business leader, Davis is known for his passion for student learning, involvement in intercollegiate meat judging programs, and for his philanthropic support of animal science and education.
Davis grew up on an eastern Washington dairy farm, helping his family earn state Dairy Family of the Year honors in 1964. Drawn to WSU in part by his interest in meats judging, Davis became an avid competitor and coach who helped many students hone scientific and practical knowledge, skills, and determination through judging teams.
As founder and chairman of an educational resource company, CEV Multimedia, Davis has reached millions of students, allowing them to learn, compete, and ultimately become involved in the meats industry, agriculture, and many other fields. More than four million students have learned about meat science through Davis’ educational programs. Many of these have gone on to university meat science classrooms and careers in science and industry.
Davis’s success has allowed him to shape the future of science and education through multiple educational endowments in agriculture, including six meat science endowment funds. A member of AMSA for 48 years, he has been recognized with some of the association’s top awards, as well as honors from WSU, Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University, USDA, Sigma Chi International Fraternity, for his service, philanthropy, and leadership.
At WSU, Davis has been deeply involved in supporting student and faculty excellence, creating the Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of CAHNRS, named for his ancestor, Palouse pioneer and entrepreneur James S. “Cashup” Davis, and serving on the CAHNRS Campaign council.
He earned master’s and doctoral degrees in meat science from Texas A&M University, and served as an academic meat scientist at the University of Tennessee and Texas Tech University. He has published hundreds of journal and technical articles, produced more than 120 videos, and recruited 45 meat science collaborators for his company.
Davis also co-founded the Cargill High Plains Meat Judging contest, providing competition opportunities for more than 4,500 collegiate meat judging students from more than 40 colleges and universities over the past 39 years.
Learn more about the American Meat Science Association here.