Harrison Ransom Samuel Davis Jr. was born on June 14, 1917, in Norton, Kansas, to Harrison Ransom Samuel Davis and Grace Russell (Powell) Davis. His career connected American Nazarene higher education with Christian and English-language education in Japan, where he spent several decades as a teacher, administrator, and lecturer. He later returned to Oklahoma, continuing to teach English and English as a Second Language.
Davis earned a Bachelor of Arts from Pasadena College in 1945 and a Master of Arts from the same institution in 1947. He completed postgraduate study at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1956–1957, earned a Master of Arts from the University of Southern California in 1963, and received a Doctor of Divinity from Pasadena College in 1969. His academic preparation in English and related fields preceded a career that combined classroom teaching, educational administration, curriculum work, and teacher education.
Davis began his professional career at Pasadena College, where he served as an assistant professor of English and Greek from 1947 to 1950. He then moved to Japan Nazarene Bible College in Tokyo, working as an instructor and in curriculum development from 1950 to 1959. From 1959 through 1985 he was associated with Japan Christian Junior College in Chiba City, serving as president and professor. During this period he also lectured in teacher education for Japan's public schools in Chiba Prefecture from 1965 to 1985. After leaving Japan Christian Junior College, he taught English as a Second Language at Meikei Gakuen in Tsukuba City from 1985 to 1990. From 1990 to 1994 he was an adjunct professor of English and English as a Second Language at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, Oklahoma. His long service in Japan included arranging teaching schedules and supporting educational work connected with the college's English-language program.
Served as president and professor of Japan Christian Junior College in Chiba, Japan, from 1959 to 1985, contributing more than two decades of leadership to the institution.
Developed a long international career in English-language education, curriculum work, and teacher education spanning the United States and Japan.
Davis was affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene and spent much of his professional life teaching in Nazarene educational institutions in the United States and Japan.
He was identified with the Republican Party.
Davis served as secretary of the Evangelical Publication Association in Tokyo in 1952 and as treasurer of the Evangelical Missionary Association Japan from 1951 to 1952. He was a fellow of the Reed Leadership Foundation and belonged to the Oklahoma Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. His documented affiliations also included the Order of the Rising Sun.
Served as secretary in Tokyo.
Evangelical Publication Association , Japan
1952 - 1952
Served as treasurer.
Evangelical Missionary Association Japan , Japan
1951 - 1952
Fellow.
Reed Leadership Foundation , United States
Member.
Oklahoma Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages , United States
Member.
Order of the Rising Sun , Japan
Quotes from others about the person
Mary L. Scott credited Davis with arranging her teaching schedule at Japan Christian Junior College so that she could devote time to writing her book Kept in Safeguard.
Davis married Doris Kathryn Wagner on July 24, 1947. They had four children: David H. Davis, Paul D. Davis, Stephen C. Davis, and Carol L. Davis Herth. His parents were Harrison Ransom Samuel Davis and Grace Russell (Powell) Davis.
