William Davidson founded the Institute that bears his name in 1992 with the goal of assisting former Soviet-bloc countries makes the economic transition to a market economy.

At the ceremony announcing the creation of WDI, Davidson said: “We are not just educators, administrators, or businessmen. We are co-workers for the cause of economic and social freedom.”

Before his death on March 13, 2009, he was Chairman, President and CEO of Guardian Industries Corp., a company of 19,000 employees located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Started in 1932, the company is one of the world's largest manufacturers and fabricators of float glass products for the commercial and residential construction industries, a leading supplier of vehicle glass and exterior plastic and metal trim systems to the global automotive industry, one of the largest manufacturers of fiberglass insulation, and the largest distributor of building materials (excluding forest products) in North America. Guardian operates manufacturing, fabrication and distribution facilities in 21 countries on 5 continents to meet the needs of customers in more than 80 markets worldwide.

Davidson became the managing partner of the Detroit Pistons Basketball Club in 1974 and was the majority owner of Palace Sports and Entertainment, which includes The Palace of Auburn Hills, the Detroit Shock (Women's National Basketball Association) and DTE Music Energy Theatre, a world-class entertainment venue, as well as management of Meadow Brook Music Theatre.

He was one of Michigan’s most notable philanthropists, responsible for more than $200 million in donations to local and international charities and universities. He gave $30 million to start the William Davidson Institute. In addition to the Institute, Davidson gave millions to the university and was one of U-M’s biggest donors.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Davidson received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan in 1947 and his Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University in 1949. In 1949 he was admitted to practice before the Michigan Supreme Court. In 1996 he was awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. In 2001, Mr. Davidson was awarded an honorary degree from the University of Michigan.