Steven Anthony Davis

Steven was born in Milwaukee, WI to Dolores and the late Henry Joseph Davis. He was their youngest of five children. Steven graduated from Messmer High School (Milwaukee) and in 1980 received a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He earned his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago in 1983.

Steven was committed to his family, his faith, his career and his community. He spent his life lifting up others and working to make long-lasting differences in the lives of those he touched. He loved traveling, especially to Destin, FL with wife and his children. He was a quintessential “#girldad.” He cheered on his daughters at every sports game, recital, presentation and graduation. He loved swimming with his grandchildren and spending time at the lake entertaining friends on his boat. He loved listening to smooth jazz, dancing to the greatest hits, watching Green Bay Packers football and eating chocolate chip cookies.

Steven was a business visionary. He led innovation in organizations and inspired his employees to be their best selves. Steven was exceptional at bringing diversity, inclusion and equity into the corporate workforce, as well as being a mentor to young people aspiring to become leaders and executives.

Steven earned numerous business accolades. In 2014, Steven received the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award; and in 2021, Steven was awarded the highest honor from his alma mater, an honorary doctorate in Business Administration. In 2007, Rio Grande University honored Steven with an honorary doctorate in Public Service. In 2012, he received The Ohio State University William E. Nelson Community Warrior Award for Business. For 10 years, Black Enterprise Magazine named Steven as one of the 75 Most Powerful Black Men in American Business. He was featured in Black Enterprise Magazine’s Registry of Corporate Directors list, which highlights African American board members from the 250 largest companies on the S&P 500. In 2010, Steven appeared on the cover of Who’s Who In Black Columbus.

Steven was named the first person of color as CEO and Chairman of Bob Evans Farms, Inc, one of only eight African American CEOs of publicly traded companies at the time. His C-suite executive roles at Long John Silver’s, A&W All American Food Restaurants, Pizza Hut and Kraft General Foods placed him among the top business leaders in the nation. Some of his greatest accomplishments include: doubling the size of the Bob Evans food business, creating the Bob Evans University, launching the A&W’s first (single brand) restaurant, achieving the highest restaurant operations performance in YUM Brands history and introducing the first WingStreet® concept to the Pizza Hut brand of which there are now over 4,000 WingStreet® locations nationwide.

He served on a number of Fortune 100 boards of directors and was an active member of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc., Marathon Petroleum Corporation, Albertsons and PPG Industries until his death. Steven previously served on the boards of directors of Legacy Acquisition, CenturyLink, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Sonic, The Ohio State University's Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, JobsOhio and served as a chair of Mid-Ohio Food Bank's Operation Feed. In June 2022, Steven was recognized as one of the 2022 National Association of Corporate Directors Top 100 for his influence, leadership and integrity in the boardroom. Steven also served on the International Board of Directors for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) until his passing, and he and his family are valued members of the Central Ohio Chapter.

Steven was beloved by his family far and wide. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lynnda Davis, his three daughters, Brittany Barbosa (Evan), Stephanie Oliver (Christian), and Cassaundra Davis, and his four grandchildren; Chandler, Reese, and Davis Barbosa, and soon-to-arrive baby Oliver. Steven is also survived by his mother, Dolores, and his four older siblings, Henry Davis Jr. (Margaret), Teresa Valent (Edward), Beverly Bangert (David), and Peggy Davis, and an abundance of loving aunts, uncles, cousins and relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, Henry Joseph Davis.

Those wishing to honor Steven’s life will be received during visitation on July 17, 2022, from 2 pm - 6 pm at SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST, 1051 E Johnstown Rd, Gahanna, OH 43230.

There will also be a homegoing service on July 18, 2022, at 11 am at Central College Presbyterian Church, 975 S Sunbury Rd, Westerville, OH 43081.

Following his service, Steven will be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 5600 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43213.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Steven Davis Business Scholarship Fund at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee or to the JDRF.