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David Evan Davis, Jr. (November 7, 1930 – March 27, 2011) was an American automotive journalist and magazine publisher widely known as a contributing writer, editor and publisher at ''Car and Driver'' magazine and as the founder of ''Automobile'' magazine. Davis influenced the format of automotive journalism by introducing premium publishing features〔 and he influenced the profession by mentoring a gamut of automotive photographers, illustrators, designers and journalists – including Jean (Lindamood) Jennings, Robert Cumberford, Bruce McCall, P. J. O'Rourke, Jim Harrison and David Halberstam〔 – as well as younger colleagues and journalism students.〔 Known for his own straightforward writing style and his colorful personality – at six-foot-three inches tall, bearded, portly〔 and always immaculately dressed – Davis had once been featured in the New York Times ''On the Street'' fashion section. Automotive writer Todd Lassa called him "a raconteur, an impresario, a bon vivant in a tweed, three-piece suit." As an editor he maintained an "atmosphere of creative turbulence."''The New York Times'' described him as "a combative swashbuckler who encouraged criticism of the cars it tested, even at the risk of losing advertising."〔 His collected writings were published in 1999 ''"Thus Spake David E.: The Collected Wit and Wisdom of the Most Influential Automotive Journalist of Our Time"''. Davis said his success in automotive journalism came from "his ability to marry southern storytelling to big-city presentation."〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher = Car and Driver, 27 March 2011, Eddie Alterman )〕 ''The Truth About Cars'' said "automotive journalism in the post-Vietnam-War era was entirely and singlehandedly defined by David E. Davis, Jr."〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher = The Truth About Cars, 27 March 2011, Jack Baruth )〕 ''Time'' magazine called Davis the "dean of automotive journalists." ==Background== Davis was born in Burnside, Kentucky, on November 7, 1930 – in a house without running water, on a hill called Tyree's Knob.〔 His aunt was Harriette Arnow, author of the best-selling novel, The Dollmaker.〔 Davis graduated from high school in Royal Oak, Michigan, having failed his journalism class.〔 He later briefly attended Olivet College. He worked in a series of jobs: as a race car driver, Volkswagen salesman, men's clothing salesman, ad salesman with ''Road & Track'' and assembly line worker in a car factory.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher = Automobile Magazine, 27 March 2011, Joe DeMatio )〕 He would develop his "simple, declarative () style" working on aviation technical manuals.〔 Davis overturned while racing his sports car (reported variously as a MG TD〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher = Insideline.com, Mike McGrath, March 27, 2011 )〕 or MG 1500〔) at age 25 in Sacramento – badly damaging his face. He lost his left eyelid, the bridge of his nose, the roof of his mouth and most of his teeth.〔 In addition to the accident essentially scraping off half his face, the ambulance attendant had thrown away pieces of his nose.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher = Baggyparagraphs.wordpress.com, Ronald Ahrens, March 28, 2011 )〕 Davis required extensive plastic surgery – and was later able to hide his disfigurement under his full beard.〔 He described the crash and its aftermath as pivotal: Davis lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his second wife Jeannie Luce Kuhn Davis.〔 His three children from his first marriage to Norma Jean Wohlfiel Davis〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher = Autoblog, 28 March 2011, David E. Davis III )〕 were Peg, David E. Davis III, and Matthew who is a European contributor for numerous publications, including ''Autoblog''. He had three stepchildren – Eleonore Kuhn Snow, Vincent and Anthony Kuhn. He died unexpectedly at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti, Michigan on March 27, 2011 shortly following bladder cancer surgery.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「David E. Davis」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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