George Davis, society sportsman

George L. Davis, 86, of Pompano Beach, Fla., a sportsman and businessman who served on two Olympic committees and was a guest at Grace Kelly's wedding, died March 5 at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"He was a gentleman of charm, wit, insight, and integrity," his daughter Margaret Packer said.

Mr. Davis grew up in Mount Airy and graduated from William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia. He earned a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was president of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity; was a member of the Kite and Key, an honor society; and played on the baseball, basketball, and soccer teams. During World War II, he served in the Navy in the States.

Mr. Davis married Kelly's sister Margaret in 1944. The couple had met in Ocean City, N.J., where their families had homes. Mr. Davis was president of Davis Building Supply Co. and later did business with his father-in-law, John B. Kelly Sr., a brick-company owner and three-time Olympic gold medalist in rowing.

In 1956, Margaret Kelly Davis was matron of honor when her younger sister married Prince Rainier of Monaco.

In the 1950s, Mr. Davis co-owned the Arena, a skating facility in West Philadelphia, and for several years, until 1960, he owned the Ramblers, a team in the former Eastern Hockey League. He served on committees for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team and for U.S. Olympic Figure Skating in 1960.

After selling his company in 1959, he was assistant manager for Francis I. duPont & Co., a brokerage firm in Philadelphia. In 1966, he joined W.F. Hutton & Co. He managed the brokerage firm's New York office from 1973 until 1979, when he moved from Gladwyne to Florida.

He loved golf, travel, and boating, his daughter said, and served on the board of Chris-Craft, a boat manufacturer.

Mr. Davis and Margaret Kelly divorced in 1959, and he later married Mary Louise Shea. That marriage also ended in divorce. For the last 25 years, he had been married to Jean Davis.

In addition to his wife and daughter, Mr. Davis is survived by daughters Mary Lee Kenworthy and Daphne Hochfeld, stepdaughters Alicia Wagner and Deanna Wagner, and a sister.

Services were private.

Memorial donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans, Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250.