Ronald K. Davis

Ronald Davis graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s architecture program in 1953 under the tutelage of George Haslin. Like his contemporary Homer Delawie, Davis left San Luis Obispo to return to his hometown of San Diego, drawn to the city’s burgeoning interest in modernist architecture. Davis intended to help re-shape the growing community with quality design.

Mr. Davis was born and raised in his parents’ home at 34th and El Cajon. Davis grew up in a poor household, working often as a lifeguard at Old Mission Beach to earn money. Following high school, Davis attended San Diego Junior College (now City College). With architectural drawing classes under his belt, he joined the US Navy. The GI Bill afforded Davis a low tuition and stipend at Cal Poly where he spent three years with his wife and their first child.

He was already skilled at drawing upon his arrival in San Luis Obispo, but he learned “to find the feeling” of a building design under George Haslin’s tutelage. Davis interpreted “the feeling” in his sketches until he understood the design was right.

For any young architecture school graduate, there was little work to be had in San Diego. Someone like Davis would have hoped to work for one of the larger firms in town – which at the time were run by either Frank Hope or Richard George Wheeler.

Upon arriving back in San Diego, Davis worked for William P. Lodge at 6th & C for one year, and was paid $1.50/hour. Next, he joined Walter Sea’s firm on Park Blvd. with four other recent architecture school graduates. In the mid-50s, Davis worked for Frederick Liebhardt in his rustic cottage office near Robert Mosher’s Green Dragon Colony office. At this time, Fred Liebhardt and Henry Hester joined in partnership (1957) while Fred Norris was still in Liebhardt’s employ.

Having met Hester earlier after appreciating a building he designed on Rosecrans – Davis was reintroduced to him through the Liebhardt collaboration. Awarded with his AIA certificate in April 1958, Davis worked for Henry Hester between 1958-59. Davis recalls Homer Delawie applying for work with Hester during this time period. Also having graduated from Haslin’s school, Delawie threatened Davis’ role in the Hester office. Instead, Davis’ fellow Cal Poly grad found work elsewhere with Lloyd Ruocco.

As Henry Hester’s designer/draftsman, Davis also worked for Cody & Hester. Palm Springs modernist William Cody partnered with Hester for a few years, and during the summer of 1958, Davis worked from Cody’s Palm Springs office. Among the few projects to come out of the Cody & Hester office was the Richard Silverman Residence on Miller Street in Mission Hills.

After helping Hester with the design of the Cornelius Residence, Solomon Residence and the Solomon Apartment Building (3200 Sixth Avenue), Davis was let go. Henry Hester heard on the golf course that Davis’ moonlighting with his own architecture practice was growing successful. In 1959, Davis set up his own firm and continued working for Fred Norris on the side. USC grad Robert Jones joined up as Henry Hester’s business partner immediately following Davis’ departure.

Davis’ solo practice was booming almost immediately, so he took on his first partner and Davis & Moises was in business, practicing together between1960-65. Davis recalls “…getting clients in the early days was easy. We didn’t advertise and our fees were cheap.” Davis would later go solo and then in partnership with his sons, both of who are architects.

Davis is still practicing today. Call him at 619-291-4367

Partial List of Projects 1957-1970

American Housing Guild Offices/Tract
La Mesa, North of Stadium
(Hester & Davis)

Butler Realty
1635 Rosecrans, Point Loma
(Hester & Davis)

Casey, Mclenahan and Christensen
110 Laurel Street, Hillcrest
(Hester & Davis)

Davis, Ronald K. Residence (1960)
Wilshire Drive, San Diego (Davis)

Edwards, Jonathan Residence
Escondido, CA
(Hester & Davis)

Givler Residence (1958)
329 Catarina Drive, Borrego Springs
(Hester & Davis)

Gleich, Enid Residence (1958)
5120 Norris Road, San Diego
(Hester & Davis)

Jackson, David Residence (1964)
3455 Charles Street, Point Loma
(Davis)

Lehman, Peter Residence (1971)
5781 Rutgers, La Jolla
(Davis)

Mueller, Carl Office
(Hester & Davis)

Mueller, Carl Residence
Point Loma
(Hester & Davis)

Private Residence (1974)
3575 Via Flores, Point Loma
(Davis)

Private Residence (Cottage)
Point Loma
(Davis)

Private Residence
Nemulus, La Jolla
(Hester & Davis)

Schwartz, Lynn Residence
5483 Drover, San Diego
(Hester & Davis)

Silverman, Richard (1959)
4021 Miller Street, Mission Hills
(Cody, Hester and Davis)

Smith, Edie Residence (1957)
9101 Wakarusa, La Mesa
(Davis)

Soloman Apartments (1959)
3200 Sixth Avenue, San Diego
(Hester & Davis)

Spec House (1962)
North Lane on the right (south) side of the street, Solana Beach
(Hester & Davis)