News Summary
Gerald Hinkle Davis, a celebrated historian and educator, has passed away at the age of 94. He made significant contributions to the field of history at Georgia State University and was an advocate for social justice throughout his life. Davis’s impact on academia and his commitment to equality will be remembered as a vital part of his legacy, which includes a dedicated career in teaching and involvement in historic events.
Atlanta, GA – Renowned historian and educator Gerald (Jerry) Hinkle Davis passed away peacefully at home on May 18, 2025, at the age of 94. Davis, who dedicated his life to the field of history and was instrumental in the growth of the Department of History at Georgia State University, is remembered for his significant contributions to academia and his advocacy for social justice.
Born on September 21, 1930, in Waynesboro, Virginia, Davis experienced a challenging childhood in South Charleston, West Virginia, amidst the Great Depression and World War II. He graduated from South Charleston High School in 1948 as a football star, which laid the foundation for his future educational pursuits. After high school, he attended Morris Harvey College, now known as the University of Charleston, where he cultivated a passion for history and the German language.
Davis pursued advanced studies, earning a PhD at Vanderbilt University, where he focused his research on the history of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, specifically examining the treatment of prisoners of war during World War I. His educational journey was marked by an unwavering commitment to social justice; while in Nashville in the 1950s, Davis made headlines by refusing to ride a segregated bus, illustrating his dedication to equality.
In 1956, Davis spent a transformative year in Vienna on a Fulbright grant. During this time, he contributed to humanitarian efforts by assisting refugees escaping the Soviet invasion of Hungary. After receiving his doctoral degree in 1958, he began teaching history at the University of Maryland, where he had opportunities to lecture at military bases across the globe, including Thule, Greenland.
By 1960, Davis settled at Maryland State Teachers College in Salisbury, Maryland, before joining Georgia State University in 1962. He remained there for the entirety of his career, retiring in 1996. During his tenure at Georgia State, Davis played a pivotal role in establishing and expanding the PhD program in history. He also significantly contributed to the university’s integration process and its evolution from a commuter college into a respected research institution.
Throughout his academic journey, Davis was an active participant in pivotal historical events. Notably, he marched in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral procession in 1968 and was engaged in the preservation of historical sites, including a renovation of a historic house in Druid Hills.
Davis was married twice. He first married in 1960 and, despite a later divorce, had five children, three of whom predeceased him. He remarried in 1973 to Hilda Roguly Penney, with whom he shared a 23-year marriage until her passing in 1996. Together, they traveled extensively, even living in Germany, and they had three stepchildren. In December 2001, Davis married Alice Kimbler Hankla, a physicist and teacher, and enjoyed an adventurous retirement, which included traveling the Trans-Siberian Railroad and participating in a study abroad program with Georgia Tech. This marriage brought him two stepsons.
In his later years, Davis formed a close friendship with James Williams and cherished time spent with his family, including fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His legacy as a beloved educator, historian, and family man will be celebrated at a memorial service in the near future, followed by a private burial alongside his late wife Hilda.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Gerald Hinkle Davis can be made to the History Department at Georgia State University or to Senior University of Greater Atlanta, reflecting his lifelong commitment to education and community service.
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- Dignity Memorial: Gerald Davis
- Wikipedia: Social Justice
- Legacy.com: Gerald Krieg
- Google Search: Gerald Davis historian
- Legacy.com: Gerald Key
- Google Scholar: Gerald Davis
- Dignity Memorial: Viola Martin
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Historian
- Google News: Gerald Davis
