What does Richard A. “Dick” Davies have in common with basketball greats Bill Bradley, Larry Brown, and Walt Hazzard? They are all members of a team which won the most coveted award in athletic competition: the Olympic gold medal. In 1964 at Tokyo, Japan, the U.S. basketball team conquered the previously undefeated Russians, 72-59, in the Olympic finals to capture gold. Just making that talented squad was no small feat when you consider such great athletes as Rick Barry, Willis Reed, Paul Silas, Billy Cunningham, and Gale Goodrich didn’t even make the team! Previous to his Olympic honor, “Dick” was captain and leading scorer of the 1960 Louisiana State University basketball team. He later joined the Goodyear “Wingfoots” in the National AAU League, leading them to a national championship in 1964. “Dick” has a long association with the University of Tennessee as a member of the Development Council, and he was Chairman of the University of Tennessee at Martin Development Committee in 1978. For over ten years, “Dick” Davies was a resident of Union City, where he served as production manager for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. “Dick” is a member of various halls of fame besides Tennessee’s, including the Pennsylvania State Sports Hall of Fame and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Fitting honors for an Olympic gold medalist!
