Thomas Whitfield Davidson (September 23, 1876 – January 26, 1974) was a United States federal judge.
Born in Harrison County, Texas, Davidson read law to enter the bar in 1903. He was in private practice in Marshall, Texas from 1903 to 1907. He was the city attorney of Marshall 1907 to 1914, thereafter resuming his private practice in Dallas, Texas until 1920. He was a member of the Texas State Senate from 1920 to 1922, and was lieutenant governor of Texas from 1922 to 1924. He then returned to private practice in Dallas until 1936.
On January 22, 1936, Davidson was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas vacated by Edward R. Meek. Davidson was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 30, 1936, and received his commission on February 5, 1936. He served as chief judge from 1954 to 1959, and assumed senior status on November 1, 1965, holding that position until his death, in 1974.
Famous quotes containing the words thomas and/or davidson:
“The exile is a singular, whereas refugees tend to be thought of in the mass. Armenian refugees, Jewish refugees, refugees from Franco Spain. But a political leader or artistic figure is an exile. Thomas Mann yesterday, Theodorakis today. Exile is the noble and dignified term, while a refugee is more hapless.... What is implied in these nuances of social standing is the respect we pay to choice. The exile appears to have made a decision, while the refugee is the very image of helplessness.”
—Mary McCarthy (1912–1989)
“A stag of warrant, a stag, a stag,
A runnable stag, a kingly crop,
Brow, bay and tray and three on top,
A stag, a runnable stag.”
—John Davidson (1857–1909)