Tom Davis (Cook Islands)
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Sir Thomas (Tom) Davis KBE (born June 11, 1917) is a former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and a medical researcher. He has also served as Cook Island High Commissioner to New Zealand. He was knighted in 1981.
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[edit] Early life and Education, Medical, and Academic Career
Sir Tom was born on the island of Rarotonga. His full name is Thomas Robert Alexander Harries Davis. He was the first Cook Islands medical graduate in New Zealand, finishing his studies at Otago in 1945. He then served as Medical Officer in the Cook Islands working to improve the country's health system.
In 1952, he went to Harvard University, initially completing a Master of Public Health, before joining the Department of Nutrition there. Subsequently, he worked in for various parts of the armed forces as a research physiologist, before joining NASA to work on the space program.
The University of Otago awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2005.
[edit] Politics
Sir Tom was a founder of the Cook Islands Democratic Party in 1971, and became opposition leader in 1972, going on to serve as Prime Minister from 1978 to April, 1983, and following the short first tenure of Geoffrey A. Henry, from November, 1983 to 1987, when he left office while the Democratic Party was still in power. He then went on to serve as High Commissioner to New Zealand.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Honorary doctorate for former Cook Islands PM, University of Otago Bulletin, Issue 10, 20 May 2005.
