Salt Lake City

High-resolution image

The Salt Lake City Division honors Reverend France Davis for his continued message of hope and scholarship to the Salt Lake City community and African-American youth throughout the state of Utah.

Rev. Davis has served as the pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church for more than 39 years and preaches that education is the gateway to success. Rev. Davis has earned six different degrees from various universities. Following the establishment of the Pastor France A. Davis Scholarship in 2008, Rev. Davis has been able to increase the representation of African-American students at Utah’s colleges and universities. The scholarship is funded by the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce.

For decades, Rev. Davis has worked with community leaders on issues including equality, fair housing, and eradicating poverty. Rev. Davis continues to preach at his church and is a communications and ethnic studies professor at the University of Utah and Westminster College. Rev. Davis was active during the civil rights movement and marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, he continues to fight for civil rights in Utah and is well respected among civil leaders and leaders of all religions in his community. Rev. Davis’ goal is to help every individual in his community—no matter who they are—reach their highest potential.