East Tawakoni man to have college building named in his honor

East Tawakoni resident Charles "Buddy" Davis says he still wakes up in the middle of the night floored and honored that a nationally known university will be naming a building after him during a ceremony this weekend.

Davis, 74, recently donated $4 million to Auburn University and found out that the university planned to name the Aerospace Engineering Hall in his honor.

"The naming of the building is probably one of the biggest things in my life," Davis said. "The thing that's exciting about it is I get so many phone calls from people congratulating me."

Davis, who graduated in from the university in 1959 with a degree in electrical engineering, says he has been a supporter of both education and aerospace engineering during his life.

During his career, Davis said he is best known for his pioneering efforts on the Apollo spacecraft, shuttle and space station programs.

Davis, who said he lived in East Tawakoni for 18 years and in Greenville for 11 years, said he has been married to his wife, Charlotte, for 42 years and has three sons - one whom is an Auburn graduate himself.

In a statement, Larry Benefield, the dean of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, said that Davis' gift will have far reaching effects for the university and aerospace industry.

"Buddy and Charlotte's gift is significant because it will enable our Department of Aerospace Engineering to expand its fluid dynamics and advanced simulation lab capabilities, as well as relocate the wind tunnel facilities and expand the unique hardware-in-the-loop simulation program," Benefield said. "This gift will certainly have far-reaching implications for future generations of aerospace engineering students, and in turn, certainly significant developments will be made for the aerospace industry."

Davis, whose college education was funded by the G.I. Bill, said having a good education has done a lot for his career and life, and he wants to give back.

"What better can I do with my money other than give it to education?" he asked.

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