LONGTIME BUSINESS LEADER TO RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE
OSWEGO -- William B. Davis, president and chief
executive officer of the Metropolitan Development Foundation of Central
New York, will speak at SUNY Oswego's morning Commencement ceremony on
May 15 and receive an honorary degree.
He will address the 9 a.m. ceremony for the College
of Arts and Sciences and receive an honorary doctor of science degree.
Davis "has long been a key player in the growth of
Central New York's economy," the college's nomination letter read. "A
visionary leader in his former roles as chairman and chief executive
officer of Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation and chairman of National
Grid USA, he now devotes his enormous energy and wealth of knowledge
about the business community to aiding in the area's economic
development."
He joined Niagara Mohawk in 1990 as vice president
of corporate planning. He soon rose through the ranks, becoming the
company's fifth chairman and chief executive officer in 1993.
Before that, he served New York state through his
knowledge of planning and energy conservation, serving as an energy
adviser to two governors and numerous special commissions and task
forces. He also co-authored the state's first three New York State
Energy Master Plans.
The Skaneateles resident joined the Metropolitan
Development Foundation after retiring from National Grid a year ago.
In 1994, Davis was the inaugural speaker in a series
of roundtable discussions at SUNY Oswego designed to bring together
community and business leaders.
He has been active on numerous boards and
committees, including the National Audubon Society, Business Council of
New York State and Center for Clean Air Policy. His humanitarian
contributions have earned Davis the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the
Simon Le Moyne Medal.
He earned a bachelor of science degree from the U.S.
Naval Academy in 1964 and his master of science degree from George
Washington University in 1971. His time in the Navy as a navigator,
operations officer and engineering division officer launched his career
in the energy industry.
Davis will join two previously announced speakers at
Oswego's dual Commencement ceremonies in
Romney Field House on May 15. Theodore C. Sorensen, an attorney,
best-selling author and special counsel to President John F. Kennedy,
will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree with Davis at the 9 a.m.
ceremony for the College of Arts and Sciences. Lee S. Shulman,
president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching,
will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree at the 1:30
p.m. School of Education and School of Business ceremony.