California’s Chuck Davis: Vocational education teacher who was also a conscientious objector, graphic arts expert, and restorer of antique clocks.

There are many talented educators who have led colorful lives outside of the classroom. One of these is Chuck Davis, a vocational education teacher from California who also worked as a forester, a typesetter, and restorer of antique clocks.

Chuck was born Charles Ernest Davis on Feb. 4, 1923, in La Verne, California. After his graduation from Bonita High School in 1941, he enrolled at La Verne College. His father, also named C. Ernest Davis, was serving as the college’s president at the time. During his college years, which spanned World War II, Chuck spent three years in the Civilian Public Service (CPS) as a conscientious objector. There he was involved in forestry work. In the evenings he hand set type and printed the works of several Beat poets who were also stationed at the forestry camp.

When his stint in the CPS was complete, Chuck worked as a printer at the San Dimas Press and a foreman at the San Gabriel Valley Daily Tribune. He also taught printing in the Vocational Education Department at Garfield High School in Los Angeles. In addition to teaching there, Chuck also instructed courses at Los Angeles Trade Technical College for 36 years, and at Los Angeles State College.

When he was 60 years old, Chuck retired. But he was not finished working. He purchased a typesetting and graphic arts photography business, which he ran with his sons Robbie and Alan. He also taught a course in clock repair through Pomona Adult School. In fact, he conducted comprehensive research into Japanese schoolhouse clocks. This research was published in the NAWCC Bulletin in 2009.

Chuck passed away on July 1, 2020. He was 97 years old. To learn more about this amazing educator, follow this link to the Daily Bulletin.