Willie D. Davis
Broadcast executive and football player Willie D. Davis was born on July 24, 1934, in Lisbon, Louisiana to Nodie Bell and David Davis. Recruited to Grambling College (now Grambling State University) by football coach Eddie Robinson, Davis captained the football team and was a student on the dean’s list for two years. In 1956, he graduated from Grambling with his B.S. degree in math and industrial arts.
Davis was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the seventeenth round of the 1956 National Football League Draft. However, that same year, Davis was also drafted into the U.S. Army and was unable to begin his NFL career until 1958. After two years with the Browns, Davis was traded to the Green Bay Packers. For ten seasons, Davis played 138 consecutive regular season games and was a member of all five of Vince Lombardi’s NFL title-winning teams, playing in Super Bowls I and II. In his career with the Green Bay Packers, Davis recovered twenty-one fumbles, setting a team record, never missing any of the 162 games in his twelve-year tenure. Davis was awarded the Associated Press’ All-Pro honors in 1962 and from 1964 to 1967. During the last two years of his football career, Davis studied at the University of Chicago, earning his M.B.A degree in 1968. The following year, the Packers honored Davis’ retirement with Willie Davis Day. That same year, Davis purchased the West Coast Beverage Company and served as its president for eighteen years, while also working as a color commentator on the NFL telecasts for NBC in the early 1970s. Since 1976, Davis has been the president and chief executive officer of All Pro Broadcasting, Inc., a Los Angeles broadcasting company which owns radio stations in the Midwest and Southern California. In 1981, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Davis served as the director of the 1984 Olympics Committee in Los Angeles in 1984. That same year, President Reagan appointed him to the President’s Commission on the Executive Exchange.
Davis has served on the boards of the Sara Lee Corporation, the National Association of Broadcasters, Dow Chemical Company, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Johnson Controls, MGM Mirage, Manpower, Fidelity National Financial, Wisconsin Energy, Strong Management Fund, Mattel Toys, Schlitz Brewing Company, Fireman’s Fund Insurance, Bassett Furniture, Alliance Bank, the Green Bay Packers, the Kauffman Foundation, Occidental College and K-Mart. Davis is also an Emeritus Trustee for the University of Chicago and a Trustee at Marquette University. In 2001, Davis co-chaired and founded the Vince Lombardi Titletown Legends, a charitable organization created to assist various charities throughout Wisconsin. Davis was named the Walter Camp Man of the Year, was ranked 69th on The Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Football Players and was given the Career Achievement Award from the NFL Alumni. Davis and his wife Ann have a son, Duane, and a daughter, Lori.
Willie D. Davis was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on July 9, 2007.
Davis passed away on April 15, 2020.
A2007.200
Male
7/9/2007
Davis
D
Washington High School
Grambling State University
University of Chicago
Willie
Lisbon
DAV20
Spring
Louisiana
U.S. Virgin Islands
Early Start Beats Fast Running.

California
7/24/1934
Los Angeles
USA
Steak, Collard Greens
4/15/2020
Broadcast executive, football player, and entrepreneur Willie D. Davis (1934 - 2020) played for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers, winning Super Bowls I and II. In 1981, Davis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also the president and chief executive officer of All Pro Broadcasting, Inc.
All Pro Broadcasting
West Coast Beverage Company
NBC
Green Bay Packers (Football team)
Cleveland Browns (Football team : 1946-1995)
United States Army
Blue, Green
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443875">Tape: 1 Slating of Willie D. Davis' interview</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443876">Tape: 1 Willie D. Davis lists his favorites</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443877">Tape: 1 Willie D. Davis describes his mother</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443878">Tape: 1 Willie D. Davis remembers his mother's religious involvement and career</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443879">Tape: 1 Willie D. Davis recalls his decision to play football</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443880">Tape: 1 Willie D. Davis describes his father</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443881">Tape: 2 Willie D. Davis recalls his relationship with his father as an adult</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443882">Tape: 2 Willie D. Davis remembers his maternal grandparents</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443883">Tape: 2 Willie D. Davis describes his paternal grandparents</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443884">Tape: 2 Willie D. Davis recalls his early childhood in Lisbon, Louisiana</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443885">Tape: 2 Willie D. Davis describes his earliest memories of Texarkana, Arkansas</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443886">Tape: 2 Willie D. Davis recalls his family life</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443887">Tape: 2 Willie D. Davis remembers his community in Texarkana, Arkansas</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443888">Tape: 2 Willie D. Davis describes the sights, sounds and smells of his childhood</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443889">Tape: 3 Willie D. Davis describes his elementary school experiences</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443890">Tape: 3 Willie D. Davis recalls his personality in elementary school</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443891">Tape: 3 Willie D. Davis talks about his early aspirations</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443892">Tape: 3 Willie D. Davis describes the role of religion in his childhood</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443893">Tape: 3 Willie D. Davis remembers his junior high school experiences</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443894">Tape: 3 Willie D. Davis recalls teachers and friends at Booker T. Washington High School</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443895">Tape: 3 Willie D. Davis describes his high school activities and aspirations</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443896">Tape: 3 Willie D. Davis recalls the football team at Booker T. Washington High School</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443897">Tape: 4 Willie D. Davis describes his decision to attend Grambling College</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443898">Tape: 4 Willie D. Davis recalls meeting Coach Eddie Robinson</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443899">Tape: 4 Willie D. Davis talks about his hesitation to attend Grambling College</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443900">Tape: 4 Willie D. Davis shares his first impressions of the Grambling football team</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443901">Tape: 4 Willie D. Davis recalls his attempt to leave Grambling College</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443902">Tape: 4 Willie D. Davis remembers his college girlfriend</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443903">Tape: 4 Willie D. Davis recalls becoming comfortable at Grambling College</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443540">Tape: 5 Willie D. Davis recalls a memorable football game at Grambling College</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443541">Tape: 5 Willie D. Davis talks about being drafted by the Cleveland Browns</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443542">Tape: 5 Willie D. Davis remembers his service in the U.S. Army</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443543">Tape: 5 Willie D. Davis recalls playing for the Cleveland Browns</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443544">Tape: 5 Willie D. Davis remembers being traded to the Green Bay Packers</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443545">Tape: 5 Willie D. Davis describes his offseason job as a substitute teacher</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443546">Tape: 5 Willie D. Davis recalls playing for the Green Bay Packers</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443904">Tape: 6 Willie D. Davis recalls winning NFL championships with the Green Bay Packers</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443905">Tape: 6 Willie D. Davis remembers earning his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443906">Tape: 6 Willie D. Davis talks about why he pursued his M.B.A. degree</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443907">Tape: 6 Willie D. Davis recalls working in the beverage industry</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443908">Tape: 6 Willie D. Davis remembers his service on corporate boards</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443909">Tape: 6 Willie D. Davis talks about his work in the television and radio industries</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443910">Tape: 6 Willie D. Davis reflects upon his life</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443911">Tape: 6 Willie D. Davis describes his hopes and concerns for the African American community</a>
<a href="https://da.thehistorymakers.org/story/443912">Tape: 6 Willie D. Davis describes how he would like to be remembered</a>
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