Davis F. Stakely

Davis Fonville Stakely (January 27, 1883 – January 12, 1964) was a justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama from 1943 to 1945, and again from 1946 to 1962. Early life, education, and career Born in Augusta, Georgia, to pastor Charles A. Stakely and Sarah Jessie Stakely, he received a law degree from Mercer University in 1904, where he was also a star athlete on the Mercer baseball team. He "was at second base in every game played by the Baptist institution for four years (1901-02-03 and 04) and four times was named to the All-Southern Intercollegiate team". In 1905, he was elected to the faculty of Howard College (later renamed Samford University), where he taught business methods and Latin, and where he was also head coach of the football team in 1905, and of the baseball team in 1908. Stakely entered the practice of law in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1908. Judicial service In 1943, Governor Chauncey Sparks temporarily appointed Stakely to a seat on the state supreme court vacated by a leave of absence taken by Justice Thomas S. Lawson, who had taken an active duty role with the United States Navy during World War II.