Dr. A. Porter Davis

Dr. A. Porter Davis was born Albert Porter Davis, November 13, 1890 in Palestine, Texas. Graduating from Lincoln High School, Palestine, Texas in 1907, he worked his way through Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, graduating in 1913. He was licensed to practice medicine in Tennessee on May 13, 1913.
Dr. A. Porter Davis moved to Kansas City, Kansas, passed the Kansas Medical Board and was licensed to practice in the state of Kansas on June 20, 1913. Dr. Davis became a First Lt. in the Army Reserves in December, 1917. On May 9, 1919, He passed the Missouri State Board of Health exam and was licensed to practice medicine in the state of Missouri.
Dr. Albert Porter Davis received his first flight instructions at Richard's field, Kansas City, Missouri. It was difficult for a "Negro” to find an instructor to teach them to fly. Dr. Davis credits Charles Toth a Frenchmen for giving him early flying lessons. (Charles Toth owned Toth Aircraft and Accessories, Municipal Airport, Kansas City, Missouri)
Dr. Davis completed his instructions at the Porterfield Flying School that was run by Edward E. Porterfield Jr. On May 16, 1928 Dr. Davis completed his first solo flight. Davis was inspired to purchase his first plane afterwards. It was an American Eagle Aircraft powered by an OX5 engine.
On August 10, 1928 Albert Porter Davis received his private pilot's license, issued by the Department of Commerce, Aeronautics Branch. His pilots license number was 3902, as documented in his personal communications with the Department of Commerce. It was reported in the local newspaper (Kansas City Kansan August 30, 1939) that "Dr. A. Porter Davis was the fourth Negro to hold a pilot's license and the oldest Negro pilot in seniority with eleven years flying experience as a private pilot.” Statistics by race were not kept during this time but it was known that Dr. Davis was an early African-American pioneer aviator. He was listed in "Who's Who in Aviation."
With the passage of the Air Commerce Act in December of1927, the federal government began issuing pilot's licenses through the Department of Commerce, the predecessor of the Federal Aviation Association

Dr. Davis introduced flying to the African-American community by giving airplane rides on weekends at the Fairfax Airport, Kansas City, Kansas. He would fly to different cities in the state of Kansas with a pre-announcement of his arrival to stimulate interest in aviation.
In August 1929 Dr. Davis formed the A. Porter Davis Aviation Industries with the goal of teaching "young Negroes to fly.” Sixteen students had enrolled in his school when the great depression of1929 necessitated the closing of his school. Dr. Davis and Ernest L. Gayden, his mechanic and copilot, flew from Kansas City to Chicago in 1929 looking for other African-Americans who shared their dream of flight.
Dr. Davis continued flying through the 1930's, purchasing a different airplane in 1936. By 1938 Dr. Davis had been flying for ten years. He challenged himself to fly as many consecutive days as he could, for two hundred ninety six days he was in the air. He became known as the flying physician for this accomplishment.
"In a conference said to be the first of its kind ever held by Negro flyers, the National Airmen's Association of America was organized in August 1939 at a meeting held in Chicago. Dr A. Porter Davis was the recipient of the Dwight H. Greene trophy for “the greatest contribution to aviation among Negroes. "
"American Aviation Vol. 3 No. 9 October 1, 1939"
The president of the organization was Cornelius R. Coffee, Willa Brown was the secretary and Dr. A. Porter Davis was listed as one of the vice-presidents. E>r. Davis continued flying into thel950's, upgrading planes two more times.
Dr. Davis was married to Hazel Flowers White, September 1, 1926. Of this union, one daughter was born, A. Portia Davis-King. Dr. Davis died. September 1, 1976.
Dr. Davis was a man of many talents: physician, surgeon, pioneer aviator, actor, songwriter, civil rights activist and real estate developer.
Dr. A. Porter Davis' life's works and accomplishments have been highlighted with the addition of his home "Castle Rock" to the National Register of Historic Places. He also has been inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame, Wichita, Kansas.