It was Friday, April 29, 1954 when Carlisle, MA resident David Davis pulled his Dad's 1948 Studebaker into the Concord Auto Auction. The origins of the Studebaker Corporation date back to 1852, when brothers Henry and Clement Studebaker opened a blacksmith shop in South Bend, Indiana. Studebaker eventually became a leading manufacturer of horse-drawn wagons and supplied wagons to the U.S. Army during the Civil War. Around the turn of the century, the company entered America’s burgeoning auto industry, launching an electric car in 1902 and a gas-powered vehicle two years later that was marketed under the name Studebaker-Garford. After partnering with other automakers, Studebaker began selling gas-powered cars under its own name in 1913, while continuing to make wagons until 1920.
It was the first day of work for the 16 year old Davis. David was always interested in the automobile industry, having driven without a drivers' license through the streets of Concord and many of the dirt roads in Carlisle since he was 12. With a population of only 876, it was easy to avoid the only part time volunteer police officer.
David Dixon Porter (June 8, 1813 – February 13, 1891) was a United States Navy admiral and a member of one of the most distinguished families in the history of the U.S. Navy. Promoted as the second U.S. Navy officer ever to attain the rank of admiral, after his adoptive brother David G. Farragut, Porter helped improve the Navy as the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy after significant service in the American Civil War.
Porter began naval service as a midshipman at the age of 10 years under his father, Commodore David Porter, on the frigate USS John Adams. For the remainder of his life, he was associated with the sea. Porter served in the Mexican War in the attack on the fort at the City of Vera Cruz. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he was part of a plan to hold Fort Pickens, near Pensacola, Florida, for the Union; its execution disrupted the effort to relieve the garrison at Fort Sumter, leading to its fall. In the early days of President Ulysses S. Grant's administration, Porter was de facto Secretary of the Navy.
Born June 8, 1813
Chester, Pennsylvania
Died - February 13, 1891 (aged 77)
Buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington County, Virginia
United States Navy
Years of service (1829–1891)
Rank - United States Navy Admiral
David Davis was a Concord-Carlisle High School sophomore who played sparingly as an offensive lineman for the powerhouse Patriots. The 1946 team – which was named Massachusetts Class D champs – launched the Concord 59 game consecutive undefeated streak (there was one tie during the streak), still a state record (Acton-Boxborough holds the state consecutive “win” streak at 52). Davis was on the squad that suffered its first loss in eight years.
Bernie Megin was the coach throughout that era of Concord-Carlisle dominance. Under head coach Megin, who played quarterback at Notre Dame, the Patriots ran a superbly orchestrated and creative "Delaware Wing-T" attack (the basic set that Concord-Carlisle uses more than 60 years later). It also used a full-house backfield that constituted of a quarterback and three running backs.
The lessons learned on the gridiron carried over the kid from Carlisle. Other than the two years that he spent in the United States Army, Davis has worked at the Concord Auto Auction every Friday since 1954. David will be starting his 63rd year on the job on Friday.
Admiral David Dixon Porter has the dining hall at Great Lakes Naval Station named in his honor. The guard shack at the Concord Auto Auction was finally painted in Dark Blue(New York Giants team colors)in honor of David A. Davis.
"Still Crazy after all these years."
Paul Murphy
Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy
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