By: Anna Clark
Lawerence Davenport, professor of Biological and Environmental Sciences, is retiring after 40 years of dedication to Samford University’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences.
Davenport’s contributions to Samford and its students cannot be overstated, as well as his work in the preservation of the Cahaba Lilly and environmental conservation. Davenport has also helped advance scientific scholarship through his column in Alabama Heritage magazine and his collection Nature Journal.
Davenport’s dedication has not gone unrecognized at Samford. In 1991, only his sixth year teaching at the university, he received the John H. Buchanan Award for Excellence in Classroom Teaching.
He described the award as one of his best memories at Samford. He recalled surprise receiving the award, which was voted on by students and colleagues, and it gave him confidence in himself as an educator.
Davenport described his work with the Cahaba Lilly as another source of pride in his career. Davenport has worked with the town of West Blockton for over 35 years on the protection of the plant and its habitat, even creating the Cahaba Lilly Festival as a way to bring environmental awareness to the area.
“That plant has become kind of a symbol for the wild and out-of-the-way beautiful places of Alabama,” said Davenport. “I’m proud of that — I’m very proud of the work I’ve done, and that the town of West Blocton has been involved with.”
Davenport’s work and the Cahaba Lilly Festival led to the establishment of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, which set aside 4,000 acres of key river property near West Blocton to preserve the Cahaba Lilly and its habitat.
Davenport is also loved by students on campus for his personality and teaching style. You can often see him taking his biology classes on a nature walk around campus, an idea he got from a former professor of his own.
“I was fascinated by the material, but I was also fascinated by him because he was cool. He taught in a very easygoing way, forcing us to make our own observations,” said Davenport. “That’s how I teach… My goal is to change the way you walk from Propst Hall to the cafeteria. I want you to stop and look.”
Emily McElvy says the nature walks and his non-restrictive teaching style are some of her favorite memories from Dr. Davenport’s class.
“Some of my favorite memories with Dr. Davenport have to be all of the nature walks we go on,” said McElvy. “His nature walks keep us on our toes because you can never predict where we will go next. They can range from looking at the trees in Beeson Woods, asking a girl to observe the fruits in her salad or even crossing Lakeshore to observe the flowers across the street.”
As for his retirement plans, Davenport has no shortage of ideas to fill his time.
“People say I’m going to be bored,” said Davenport. “I don’t think so. I’m a very project-oriented person. I have books in my head and things to get out there.”
When asked what one piece of advice he would like to give Samford students, Davenport answered with a quote from Henry David Thoreau’s, Walden:
“Only that day dawns to which we are awake.”
He then continued with a quote of his own.
“So, my advice is to get out, do it, open your eyes. See the world and smile.”
