For years, Herb and John Davis wanted to establish an award in the memory of their father, Dr. Herbert H. Davis, who spent much of his life working to make golf better for everyone in Nebraska. They felt the recipient of such an award should also be an individual, or a group of people, who made such an effort behind the scenes without proper public recognition.

This, in 1988, the Dr. Herbert H. Davis Memorial Award was born. In 1991, the Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame instituted a “Special Recognition Award” that had almost identical criteria for nominations. Realizing a great duplication of effort existed, the Davis family and the Hall of Fame board of directors combined the two awards.

In 2003, Herb Davis died while on a golf trip to one of his favorite courses, Sand Hills Golf Club. The Dr. Herbert H. Davis and Herbert H. Davis Jr. Award now is presented annually in their memory.