[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12092]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF NORTHWEST FLORIDA'S MARION CLIFTON 
                             ``M.C.'' DAVIS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 21, 2015

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the life and 
legacy of Northwest Florida's Marion Clifton ``M.C.'' Davis, who lost 
his battle with lung cancer on July 11, 2015. A longtime resident of 
Walton County, Florida, M.C. had an abiding love for Northwest Florida. 
He dedicated much of his life to preserving the Gulf Coast's natural 
beauty for current generations and future generations to come, and the 
Northwest Florida community mourns his passing.
   Born October 18, 1944 in Douglas, Georgia, M.C. graduated with a 
Political Science degree from the University of North Carolina in 1970 
and his J.D. from Samford Law School in 1973. After an immensely 
successful business career, which saw him pursue many different career 
paths, M.C. decided to use his success to help restore and preserve the 
land that he loved. Northwest Florida is blessed with immense 
biological and ecological diversity, with a high concentration of 
plants and wildlife alike, and in 2000, M.C. purchased more than 50,000 
acres of land in Walton County to create the Nokuse Plantation, the 
largest privately held nature preserve east of the Mississippi River.
   As a result of his dedication to conservation, M.C. has helped lead 
efforts to restore several native plant and animal species, including 
longleaf pine, which once blanketed millions of acres in the Southeast, 
and gopher tortoises, which are listed by the state as a threatened 
species. In addition, countless plants and animals from diverse parts 
of nature can be found on Nokuse Plantation, including eagles, ospreys, 
bobcats, foxes, raccoons and armadillos, among others. Indeed, M.C. has 
called this project a 300-year effort to help restore the full 
biological wealth bestowed on Northwest Florida.
   Nokuse Plantation also sits in a critical area of Northwest Florida, 
serving as a link between several important sites, including Eglin Air 
Force Base Reserve, Blackwater River State Forest and the Conecuh 
National Forest. By helping to preserve this critical resource, Nokuse 
Plantation also helps ensure that sufficient base buffering exists to 
support critical military missions at Eglin Air Force Base.
   In addition to his work establishing Nokuse Plantation, M.C. also 
founded the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center. Located on the Nokuse 
Plantation, the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center provides students in the 
4th through 7th grades, as well as their teachers, the opportunity to 
study in one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the United States. 
Each year, more than 5,000 students from across Northwest Florida study 
at the E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center, which helps integrate into the 
State of Florida's curriculum, particularly in the important Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields.
   Throughout his life, M.C. touched the lives of many and without 
question, his generosity and commitment to nature will be felt in 
Northwest Florida for many generations to come. While many will 
remember M.C. for his dedication to preserving Northwest Florida's 
natural beauty, to those who knew him best, M.C. will be remembered as 
a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
   On behalf of the United States Congress, I am privileged to 
recognize the life of M.C. Davis. My wife Vicki and I extend our 
heartfelt prayers and condolences to his wife and high school 
sweetheart, Stella; his children Crystal, Lisa, and Wendy; his 
granddaughters, Claire, Alex, Julia, Mary-Shelton; and the entire Davis 
family.

                          ____________________