Dick Davies
Encyclopedia
Richard Allen "Dick" Davies (born January 21, 1936) is a retired American
basketball player. He played for the gold medal-winning United States men's national basketball team at the 1964 Summer Olympics
. He is also the son of Bob Davies, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1970.
Davies was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
and attended John Harris High School. He then attended Gettysburg College
and played for his father, who was the coach at the time, before transferring to Louisiana State University (LSU) where he lettered for two seasons.
Standing at and weighing 176 pounds (80 kg), Davies played the guard position. 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
. Despite his late-round selection, Davies opted to play in the Amateur Athletic Union
for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots. 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. Davies averaged 3.4 points per game, and his personal tournament-high was 12 points in the opening game against South Korea
.
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. Davies declined and played for the Wingfoots, who paid $8,800 instead. 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
.
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.
As of 2011, Dick Davies resides in Knoxville, Tennessee
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball player. He played for the gold medal-winning United States men's national basketball team at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
. He is also the son of Bob Davies, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1970.
Davies was born and raised in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
and attended John Harris High School. He then attended Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College is a private four-year liberal arts college founded in 1832, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States, adjacent to the famous battlefield. Its athletic teams are nicknamed the Bullets. Gettysburg College has about 2,700 students, with roughly equal numbers of men and women...
and played for his father, who was the coach at the time, before transferring to Louisiana State University (LSU) where he lettered for two seasons.
Standing at and weighing 176 pounds (80 kg), Davies played the guard position. He was captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
of LSU for one season, and in 1960 was selected by the St. Louis Hawks in the 11th round of the NBA Draft
1960 NBA Draft
The 1960 NBA Draft was the 14th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 11, 1960 before the 1960–61 season. In this draft, eight NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year college...
. Despite his late-round selection, Davies opted to play in the Amateur Athletic Union
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots. 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. Davies averaged 3.4 points per game, and his personal tournament-high was 12 points in the opening game against South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
The following season, Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
' head coach Red Auerbach
Red Auerbach
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was an American basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and the Boston Celtics. After he retired from coaching, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics until his death...
invited him to play in their summer camp, followed by an offer of $7,500 to play for them that season. Davies declined and played for the Wingfoots, who paid $8,800 instead. After the formation of the present day National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, Davies decided to go into business. He eventually became a vice-president for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
.
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
John McLendon
John B. McLendon, Jr. was a pioneering American basketball coach who is recognized as the first African American basketball coach at a predominantly white university. He was a major contributor to the development of modern basketball and coached on both the college and professional levels during...
for the eight game Olympics "prep tour"; and Bob Davies at Gettysburg College.
As of 2011, Dick Davies resides in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
.