Thomas Henry Davis was born on March 15, 1918, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. From an early age, he placed great value on two things: human relationships and the burgeoning field of aviation. Davis would regularly spend his allowance on flight lessons. He took pre-med classes at the University of Arizona while working as a part-time flight instructor. Davis’s journey in the aviation business began in 1939 when he returned to Winston-Salem and was offered a job selling airplanes for Camel City Flying Service.
In 1940 at 22 years old, Davis purchased Camel City Flying Service and renamed it Piedmont Aviation. Initially, Piedmont operated as an aircraft repair service and a training school for pilots in the War Department Civilian Pilot Training Program. After realizing that government contracts of providing flight training for the military would end when the war ended, Davis applied to the Civil Aeronautics Board for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to operate a local-service passenger, mail, and cargo route in the southeast. Davis’s entrepreneurial spirit and innovative mindset were evident in his decision to start an airline after World War II to avoid laying off his employees. Piedmont Airlines commenced operations on February 20, 1948.
Piedmont Airlines began with three DC-3s and initially served routes stretching from Wilmington, North Carolina, northwest to Cincinnati, Ohio. Under Davis’s leadership, Piedmont Airlines expanded its reach beyond North Carolina and became known as the “puddle-jumping” airline. Davis quickly differentiated his company from competitors, investing in the latest machinery to increase production efficiency and quality. By June 1948, Piedmont showed a profit of $12,171, and by the end of the year, the company had grown significantly. Piedmont made Winston-Salem the busiest airport in the state based on departures in 1963.
Piedmont Aviation had a significant impact on the city, with its headquarters, a reservation center, a fabric center, a woodworking center, and the Piedmont Aerospace Institute located there. Tom Davis was deeply invested in the growth and development of Winston-Salem. His success with Piedmont Aviation brought significant economic benefits to the area, creating thousands of jobs and attracting other businesses to the region. Davis was known for his meticulous and demanding, but cool-headed and warm-hearted leadership. His employees’ commitment to and pride in their company was passed on to new hires, year after year.
Thomas Henry Davis passed away on April 22, 1999, and today, Piedmont Airlines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Airlines Group. Tom Davis’ legacy is reflected in both the success of the company he founded and the continued prosperity of Winston-Salem. In addition to his contributions to the aviation industry, Davis was also committed to furthering education and medical research, promoting the values and development of youth, especially in aviation, and the advancement of aviation safety. His journey from purchasing a small flying service to building a successful airline serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs in Winston-Salem and beyond.
