The recreation area around Lake Claire is now the William E. Davis and Mary Jo Davis Recreation Area at Lake Claire, in honor of William E. and Mary Jo Davis, one of the 89 founding families who pledged money and donated land to secure the site for a new university in 1964.
President John C. Hitt led the dedication, saying “[To] the entire Davis family, you have our deepest gratitude for all that you have done – and continue to do – to advance the great university that your family helped establish.”
The Davis family has continued to support UCF over the decades, most recently establishing scholarships in the College of Business Administration and the College of Medicine. Their contribution to the Recreation and Wellness program within the Office of Student Development and Enrollment Services is the first endowment to support that program. Because it is an endowed fund, it will provide support to the program for Knights of today and tomorrow.