Jeffery Warren Davis

Jeffery W. Davis passed away on Friday, June 21, 2019. His impact on family, friends, colleagues and communities will be generationally felt. Jeff was born in Tulsa on June 30, 1952. He was of Osage Indian ancestry. After graduating from Cascia Hall, Jeff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the University of Tulsa, where he was honored as a University of Tulsa Distinguished Alumnus. He was later inducted into the University of Tulsa Business Hall of Fame in 2012, where he was awarded the university’s Outstanding Entrepreneur. Jeff started his career in the restaurant industry at a young age and made it the focus of his life’s work. He played a major role in the founding and subsequent rapid growth and success of United States Beef Corporation (US Beef). Along with his father, Bob Davis, they opened their first Arby’s restaurant in Tulsa in 1969, becoming one of Arby’s pioneer franchisees. He was the Chairman of US Beef, headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and he had built it into the largest franchisee in the world of the Arby’s Restaurant Group. US Beef was also the very first franchisee of Taco Bueno Restaurants, LP until the sale of all restaurants in December 2018. Jeff was proud of their family business, creating and nurturing a business culture of caring, sharing and kindness, always recognizing the personal and professional accomplishments and successes of his employees. Jeff also received numerous awards for his leadership and growth of the Arby’s system over the years, including two Arby’s Franchisee of the Year awards, the Arby’s Maverick award for innovation, and the Arby’s Inspiring Growth award, and was recognized at the national Multi-Unit Franchising Conference with the MVP award for Mega Growth Leadership. He was also a globally recognized leader in the restaurant industry, serving as the 2017 Chairman of the National Restaurant Association, as well as serving on the board of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association and on the Board of Trustees for the National Restaurant Educational Foundation. He also served as the Chairman of Arby’s Franchise Association (AFA), and has served on the Board of Trustees for the Arby’s Supply Chain Cooperative (ARCOP). In essence, he was a born leader. In his community, Jeff and US Beef were proud to take an active and financial role in corporate social responsibility initiatives, including the Tulsa Area United Way, the Tulsa Area Red Cross, Junior Achievement, Street School, Operation Aware, and other community non-profits. Jeff was preceded in death by his mother and father Connie and Bob Davis. He is survived by his adoring and devoted wife of more than 32 years, Judy Davis, and he has left a legacy of loving children and grandchildren, including daughters Jessica Davis and Kristi (Davis) King and husband, Ashley, and by his sons Cody Davis and Bo Davis and wife Marcy. Jeff cherished his grandchildren, and they thoroughly enjoyed playing with their “Popsicle”. They are Davis King, Jeffery King, William King, Sophie Davis, Hudson Davis and Lyla Davis. Also surviving and missing him dearly are his brothers and sisters and their spouses, John and Alene Davis, Mark and Celeste Davis, Anna (Davis) and Chuck Essman, Ludi (Davis) and John Beasley. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. A Rosary will be said on Jeff’s behalf in St. Rita’s Chapel, on the campus of Cascia Hall, at 2520 S. Yorktown, on Thursday June 27, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Prior to the Rosary, a visitation will be held between 6:00-7:00 p.m. Memorial services are scheduled at The University of Tulsa’s Reynolds Center, at 11th and Harvard, on Friday, June 28, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. If you were fortunate enough to know Jeff Davis, you’re fully aware of his character, his kindness, his compassion and his generosity. So in lieu of flowers, the family has asked that you honor Jeff by being like him, and giving a donation to your favorite charity.

Jeffery Warren Davis

June 30, 1952 - June 21, 2019