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University
honors
Great Falls pair
UM
inducted Ian and Nancy Davidson into the Order of the Grizzly,
UM's most prestigious honor, during an April 27 ceremony
in Great Falls.
The
Davidsons are the 30th and 31st individuals to receive the
select award, which was established in 1965 to honor Montanans
or others with Montana roots whose accomplishments have
earned them national or international reputations. The Davidsons
received a bronze casting of the University's grizzly bear
mascot, sculptured by University art Professor Emeritus
Rudy Autio. It was presented to them at the ceremony by
UM President George Dennison.
Ian
and Nancy Davidson are best known at the University for
their 1992 gift of $1.1 million to elevate the school's
honors program to college status and to construct the Davidson
Honors College building. Honors education began at the University
in 1979 as an experimental program. Impressed with the program
as a means to attract Montana's most talented students to
the University, the Davidsons made their gift. They say
their involvement with the honors college and its students
"has given us more satisfaction than any other non-family
event thus far in our lives."
Since
its establishment, the Order of the Grizzly has been awarded
on a very selective basis to men and women whose philanthropic
and civic accomplishments have changed the face of the University.
In announcing the Order of the Grizzly award, Dennison said
the University places great value on its partnership with
the Davidsons, who have assisted efforts to provide students
an outstanding educational experience at UM. In addition
to their gifts for the Davidson Honors College, the Davidsons
have supported the School of Business Administration, the
Department of Social Work and Intercollegiate Athletics.
The
Davidsons are both UM graduates. Ian received a business
degree in 1953 and then returned to UM as a finance instructor
after completing his military service and receiving a master's
in business administration from the University of California.
Nancy is a 1959 biological sciences graduate. Both have
served on the UM Foundation board of trustees. Ian served
as the board's president in 1972, and Nancy was president
in 1996. Together they led the effort to pass the Six-Mill
Levy for the Montana University System, and each has served
on governor-appointed higher education committees for the
state.
Ian,
recognized as one of the state's most influential citizens,
is head of Davidson Companies, which comprises investment
companies D.A. Davidson & Co., Davidson Investment Advisors,
Davidson Trust and the Davidson Travel Agency. He has served
on the board of the Securities Industry Association, was
vice chairman of the Pacific Stock Exchange, was a member
of the Chicago Stock Exchange and chaired the National Association
of Securities Dealers.
Nancy
was chair of the Great Falls School Board and founded the
Great Falls Education Foundation. She was president of the
Great Falls Symphony, served on the Montana Deaconess Hospital
board and now chairs the McLaughlin Research Institute board.
Among past inductees to the Order of the Grizzly are statesman
Mike Mansfield, Nobel laureate Harold Urey, Judge James
H. Browning, actor Carroll O'Connor and national newsman
Chet Huntley.
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