Georganna “Georgie” Prime Davis died peacefully at home in the Genesee Valley on Oct. 25 after a long struggle with declining health. She was 78.
Originally from Lake Placid, N.Y., Mrs. Davis was the first woman to qualify for the U.S. Equestrian Team’s three-day event team. In 1958, at the Wofford Cup Qualifying Event held in Colorado Springs, Colo., Mrs. Davis finished second on Gipsy Hill, behind a Polish citizen and professional trainer who was not eligible for selection.
However, international rules held that Olympic three-day eventing was “too rigorous” for females, so Mrs. Davis and the next three finishers (all women) were passed over for selection.
A September 1958 Sports Illustrated article entitled “An Embarrassment Of Ladies” pointed out that “The Wofford was both a surprise and a success … but all the wrong people won… The red-faced USET Selection Committee had to reach down to fifth place to get their first candidate for the team.”
Mrs. Davis was honored by the 1998 National Women’s Hall of Fame, during its 150th anniversary of the first Women’s Rights Convention, for blazing the trail that allowed Lana DuPont (Wright) to be the first woman to event at the Olympics in 1964.
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Mrs. Davis was not the first pioneer in her family, as her mother, Mary F. Prime, was instrumental in convincing New York State to declare the Adirondacks “forever wild.”
Throughout her life, Mrs. Davis continued to event and foxhunt. She made many contributions to the Genesee Valley Pony Club, including serving as District Commissioner.
When injury prevented her from riding, she pursued a successful combined driving career with her irascible mare, High Peaks.
She is survived by: her four sons, Peter Davis, Keene, N.H., Christopher Davis, Shutesbury, Mass., Steven Davis, Rochester, N.Y., and D. Michael Davis, Rochester, N.H.; brother, R. Case Prime, Glens Falls, N.Y., and eight grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Genesee Valley Conservancy, P.O. Box 73, Geneseo, NY 14454.