Dick Davies
Richard Allan Davies (January 21, 1936 – February 25, 2012) was an American basketball player. He played for the gold medal-winning United States men's national basketball team at the 1964 Summer Olympics.[1] He is also the youngest brother of Bob Davies, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1970.[2][3]
Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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Born | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | January 21, 1936|||||||||||||
Died | February 25, 2012 76) Loudon, Tennessee | (aged|||||||||||||
Nationality | American | |||||||||||||
Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | |||||||||||||
Listed weight | 176 lb (80 kg) | |||||||||||||
Career information | ||||||||||||||
High school | John Harris (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) | |||||||||||||
College |
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NBA draft | 1960 / Round: 11 / Pick: 79th overall | |||||||||||||
Selected by the St. Louis Hawks | ||||||||||||||
Position | Guard | |||||||||||||
Career history | ||||||||||||||
1960–? | Akron Goodyear Wingfoots | |||||||||||||
Medals
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Davies was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and attended John Harris High School.[1][2] He then attended Gettysburg College and played for his brother, who was the coach at the time, before transferring to Louisiana State University (LSU) where he lettered for two seasons.[2][4]
Standing at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) and weighing 176 pounds (80 kg), Davies played the guard position.[1] He was captain of LSU for one season, and in 1960 was selected by the St. Louis Hawks in the 11th round of the NBA draft.[5] Despite his late-round selection, Davies opted to play in the Amateur Athletic Union for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots.[1] He was selected to represent the United States in the 1964 Summer Olympics, one in which they went 9–0 and won the gold medal.[1] Davies averaged 3.4 points per game, and his personal tournament-high was 12 points in the opening game against South Korea.[1]
The following season, Boston Celtics' head coach Red Auerbach invited him to play in their summer camp, followed by an offer to play in the preseason for a chance to make the roster.[2] Davies declined in order to maintain his amateur status and played for the Wingfoots while working for company as well.[2] He eventually became a vice-president for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.[2]
Dick Davies holds the rare distinction having played for four coaches who are now in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Red Auerbach at the 1964 Boston Celtics summer league; Hank Iba at the 1964 Summer Olympics; John McLendon for the eight game Olympics "prep tour"; and Bob Davies at Gettysburg College.[2]
On February 25, 2012 Davies died from a heart attack.[6] He was 76. At the time of his death Davies resided in Loudon, east of Knoxville, Tennessee.[6]
Dick Davies was the father of Bob (Bobby) Davies, who briefly played basketball for Vanderbilt,[7] and the uncle of actor Eddie Frierson.
References
- "Dick Davies – Olympics". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- "Davies Inspired Many with Play". FOX Sports. MSN.com. August 8, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- Lassiter, Tom (August 23, 1990). "Hall Of Fame Basketball Player Bob Davies Dies At 70". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- "Richard "Dick" A. Davies". Lost Lettermen LLC. 2010. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- "1960 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
- "Richard "Dick" Davies". Obituary. KnoxNews.com. February 27, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
- "1984-85 Vanderbilt Commodores Roster and Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2021-02-04.