Gray Davis

Former Governor of California (1999-2003)

Joseph 'Gray' Davis is an American politician who served as 37th governor of California from 1999 to 2003. Davis graduated from Stanford University with a BA in History, before studying law at Columbia where he was given the Moot Court award. After finishing the program in 1967, he entered active duty in the US Army, serving in Vietnam until 1969, returning home as a captain with a Bronze Star for meritorious service.

As Governor, he made education a top priority, signing legislation to strengthen California’s K-12 system, increasing accountability in schools, and expanding access to higher education with a record number of scholarships and college loans. While presiding over California during an economic expansion, Davis made record investments in infrastructure, created four Centres of Science and Innovation on UC campuses, and expanded state health insurance for an additional one million children.