Valentine Davies (1905–1961)

Davies as an energetic, talented, humorous man who loved sailing, jazz, and Michigan football. But he was first and foremost a writer, developing his craft at college with a column in the Michigan Daily and honing his skills as a graduate student at the Yale Drama School. He moved to Hollywood where he wrote screenplays for MGM, RKO, and Universal Studios, as well as for Twentieth Century-Fox. In addition to his two novels, he wrote a Broadway musical, Blow Ye Winds. He won an Oscar in 1947 for Miracle, he was nominated for three others.

He was a member of the Writers Guild of America which since 1962 has awarded the Valentine Davies Award. He was also president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. [adapted from Historical Note written by Anna Marllis Burgard in the 2000 facsimile edition of Miracle on 34th Street]