Athletics Hall of Famer Walter “Buddy” Davis Passes Away
Nov 19, 2020 | Men's Basketball, Track and Field
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Famer and 1952 Gold Medalist Walter "Buddy" Davis passed away Tuesday.
A two-sport standout, Davis was a Texas A&M letterman in track & field and basketball in 1950-52. During his time in Aggieland he was a three-time All-American, twice in track & field in 1951 and 1952 and once in basketball in 1951. Davis was the NCAA high jump (6'8") champion in 1952.
He earned All-Southwest Conference honors in basketball and high jump in 1951 and 1952, while helping the Aggies toward the SWC championship in track & field.
Following his time in the Brazos Valley, Davis continued to excel as a two-sport athlete earning a gold medal in high jump at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympic Games with an Olympic record jump of 6'8". Davis set his personal best with a world record jump of 6'11 5/8" at the 1953 AAU Championships. It has been claimed he was the first person to unofficially jump 7-feet in an exhibition meet.
Davis was selected 13th overall in the 1952 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Warriors. The 6'8" forward was a member of the Warriors from 1952-58, before finishing his career with the St. Louis Hawks in the 1958-59 season. He was a two-time NBA Champion in 1956 and 1958 and amassed 1,558 career points and 1,397 rebounds.
He is the only athlete in the history of sports to have an NBA Championship ring and an Olympic Gold Medal in Track & Field.
A native of Nederland, Texas, Davis was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 1965 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame the previous year in 1964.
A two-sport standout, Davis was a Texas A&M letterman in track & field and basketball in 1950-52. During his time in Aggieland he was a three-time All-American, twice in track & field in 1951 and 1952 and once in basketball in 1951. Davis was the NCAA high jump (6'8") champion in 1952.
He earned All-Southwest Conference honors in basketball and high jump in 1951 and 1952, while helping the Aggies toward the SWC championship in track & field.
Following his time in the Brazos Valley, Davis continued to excel as a two-sport athlete earning a gold medal in high jump at the 1952 Helsinki Summer Olympic Games with an Olympic record jump of 6'8". Davis set his personal best with a world record jump of 6'11 5/8" at the 1953 AAU Championships. It has been claimed he was the first person to unofficially jump 7-feet in an exhibition meet.
Davis was selected 13th overall in the 1952 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Warriors. The 6'8" forward was a member of the Warriors from 1952-58, before finishing his career with the St. Louis Hawks in the 1958-59 season. He was a two-time NBA Champion in 1956 and 1958 and amassed 1,558 career points and 1,397 rebounds.
He is the only athlete in the history of sports to have an NBA Championship ring and an Olympic Gold Medal in Track & Field.
A native of Nederland, Texas, Davis was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 1965 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame the previous year in 1964.
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