First Gentleman Charles Davis is looking for recipes for his second Furman-based cookbook

Furman University First Gentleman Charles Davis is no stranger to the kitchen. Davis regularly puts together culinary delights for dinner parties and prepares luncheons for the Furman University Board of Trustees’ spouses. He’s famous among students for his home-baked cookies delivered during Study Week just before finals. He’s the primary cook for the Davis family and he prides himself on favorite recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. He even put together a cookbook combining his passion for the history of the presidential residence, White Oaks, and recipes from former  presidents and residents of the home.

Now Davis is looking forward to Furman’s 200th anniversary in 2026, and he has decided to expand his culinary inspiration. So, he’s hoping to make the Furman community his sous chef in this endeavor.

“I just couldn’t get away from the idea of a cookbook to celebrate the bicentennial,” Davis said during an interview from White Oaks. “But I wanted this one to come from anyone in the Furman family who wanted to take part.”

Davis is currently asking for recipes of every style, taste, culture and ingredient to be a part of his Furman Family Bicentennial Cookbook. Whether a recipe has been passed down from grandmother to grandson, father to daughter or friend to friend, or is an original creation, he’s hoping the Paladin faithful will help him build a publication that will be part history of the university and part sentimental journey through the kitchens of anyone who has picked up a tasting spoon and taken a bite of something delicious.

It’s a passion project for Davis, whose childhood found him in the family kitchen lending a hand through preparation and pot watching, and many of the recipes he learned then are ones that find their way to his table today.

“I made fudge with my grandmother and got things ready for dinner with my mother,” Davis said. “Those were formative moments and gave me a love for food.”

To have a tailgate recipe, weekly mainstay or unique dish recipe considered for the cookbook, submit it by visiting furman.edu/fu/bicentennial-cookbook/ by July 31. Davis will go through them, choose what fits and, of course, offer credit where credit is due. He hopes to get at least 150 recipes for the publication that is expected to be released around Homecoming 2026.