Obituaries : John Davis; Won National Award for Poem

John Davis, 104, who became a published poet recognized by the National Library of Poetry last year. The self-taught writer, who had a fifth-grade education, earned a third place prize and Editor’s Choice award from the library, which published his poem in an anthology titled “Tears of Fire.” The library chose Davis’ submission as one of 3,000 to be printed from about 19,000 entries. Davis wrote the award-winning poem, “The Romance of the Sun and the Sea,” when he was 95. A native of Pittsburgh, he had lived in Los Angeles since 1920 and for the past decade had been a resident of Hollenbeck Home in Boyle Heights. Davis was an amateur poet throughout his life, frequently delighting fellow residents of the retirement center by reading samples in public gatherings or printing them in the Hollenbeck Home newsletter. Davis had earned his living as an employee of the Los Angeles County roads department. On Oct. 21 in Los Angeles.