Sir Kelvin
France will award knighthood to the USC Davis School of Gerontology's Kelvin J.A. Davies
By Jonathan Riggs
Kelvin Davies, Ph.D. |
The newest honor bestowed upon the USC Davis School of Gerontology’s Kelvin J.A. Davies, Ph.D. D.Sc., is an accolade like no other: at the personal order of Nicolas Sarkozy, president of the French Republic, he will be knighted.
Also awarded this honor is fellow USC professor Enrique Cadenas, MD, Ph.D., of the School of Pharmacy.
Later this year, the two will be made “Chevaliers” (knights) of l'Ordre National du Mérite (the National Order of Merit) at a ceremony at the French Consulate in Los Angeles, after which, they will then travel to Paris for a ceremony at the Palais du Luxembourg.
“This is a thoroughly delightful honor that Kelvin can add to the many recognitions he has garnered in his distinguished career,” said USC Davis School of Gerontology Dean Gerald C. Davison. “His colleagues and friends in the Davis School and around the world are proud of him.”
According to President Sarkozy’s announcement, Davies and Cadenas are receiving this honor in recognition of their services to France and to science.
“I was raised on the legends of the French (Brittany) Chevalier or Knight, Sir Lancelot du Lac (Launcelot) who traveled to England to join King Arthur’s Round Table. In a sense, therefore, this is the fulfillment of a childhood dream,” Davies said. “I am enormously grateful to my many colleagues and friends in France. I will try very hard to be worthy of their trust and this great accolade.” |
