2004 AAUP SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Presented by Auburn Chapter of the

American Association of University Professors (AAUP)

to

Mr. Paul R. Davis

In addition to the Academic Freedom Award presented each year to a member of the Auburn University community, our AAUP chapter also, on occasion, honors individuals who are not directly affiliated with the University by presenting the Special Recognition Award. This award recognizes persons who have demonstrated high ethical standards and professionalism in their field of specialization and significant contributions they have made in supporting the principles of academic freedom and shared governance at Auburn University.

Only two such awards have been presented in the past ten years. It was the recommendation of this year=s Awards Committee that the Special Recognition Award be presented to an outstanding individual in the local community who has demonstrated a life time of commitment to the principles and values engendered by AAUP.

The recipient of the 2004 Special Recognition Award is a person who has, through his actions and words, devoted his life to the open expression of ideas and as a crusader for causes in which he deeply believes. He holds no high office nor prestigious academic degrees. Yet he has had a profound effect on the minds and hearts of those who deeply love Auburn University and who believe in the integrity and future of this institution.

It is my pleasure to announce the recipient of this year=s AAUP Special Recognition Award, Mr. Paul Davis.

Since the1960s as a young reporter in Tuscaloosa, Paul Davis has led a distinguished career in journalism. He served as a reporter, news columnist and associate editor of The Tuscaloosa News (1969-1979); editor of The Selma Times-Journal (1973-1975); publisher of The Auburn Bulletin (1975-1978); associate publisher and editor of The Selma Times-Journal (1978-1980);vice president and general manager of The Natchez Democrat in Mississippi (1980-1982); editor, publisher and president of The Auburn Bulletin, Spirit Magazine, and The Tuskegee News (1983-1998); and from1998 to the present as president and publisher of Davis Publications at Auburn.

He has been honored by many awards in journalism over the years. These have included the:

National Humanitarian Award for the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge,1973; The Hector Award for Alabama=s top editorial writer, 1980-81; twenty-five writing awards from the Alabama Press Association and other organizations, including First Place for General Excellence while with The Selma Times-Journal and The Auburn Bulletin. In addition, Mr. Davis has served as president of the Alabama Press Association and as Chair of the Alabama Journalism Foundation.

He has been nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize for his in-depth reporting on major news stories. One in which he takes particular pride was exposing the deplorable conditions of mental health institutions in Alabama. His reporting played a key role in a landmark federal ruling that declared that mental patients have a constitutional right to treatment, subsequently leading to major reforms in the area of mental health. For his work in this area he received the prestigious Bell Award, presented by the National Association for Mental Health. He also took the lead during the Civil Rights era in hiring African Americans to work in the news department of The Selma Times-Journal while racial tensions were still high in the 1970s. For these and other efforts in promoting social reform, Paul Davis has been called by more than one individual the Acrusading editor.@

Paul Davis has continued to speak out as a reporter, columnist, and commentator on issues of public concern, including probing inquiries into the governance of Auburn University and the relationship between academics and athletics. Despite strong words from his critics, he has remained unwavering in his commitment to holding public officials accountable for their actions and supporting the principles of open debate and the Public=s right to know. Through the written word he has demonstrated remarkable courage, perseverance, and personal integrity in championing causes that reflect the values, principles, and high ethical standards that this AAUP award seeks to recognize.