Dick Davies

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Dick Davies
Personal information
Born(1936-01-21)January 21, 1936
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
DiedFebruary 25, 2012(2012-02-25) (aged 76)
Loudon, Tennessee
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Listed weight176 lb (80 kg)
Career information
High schoolJohn Harris
(Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)
College
NBA draft1960: 11th round, 79th overall pick
Selected by the St. Louis Hawks
PositionGuard
Career history
1960–?Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1964 Tokyo United States

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]

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 of $7,500 to play for them that season.[2] Davies declined and played for the Wingfoots, who paid $8,800 instead.[2] After the formation of the present day National Basketball Association, Davies decided to go into business. 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 uncle of actor Eddie Frierson.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Dick Davies – Olympics". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Davies Inspired Many with Play". FOX Sports. MSN.com. August 8, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ Lassiter, Tom (August 23, 1990). "Hall Of Fame Basketball Player Bob Davies Dies At 70". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  4. ^ "Richard "Dick" A. Davies". Lost Lettermen LLC. 2010. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "1960 NBA Draft". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Richard "Dick" Davies". Obituary. KnoxNews.com. February 27, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2012.