W. Harry Davis | |
|---|---|
 Davis published his memoirs in 2002 and 2003. | |
| Born | April 12, 1923 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | August 11, 2016 (aged 93) |
| Occupation(s) | Civic leader, businessman, boxing coach |
| Employer(s) | Onan, Star Tribune, Cowles Media Company |
| Known for | Civil rights activism, desegregation, Golden Gloves boxing, public education |
| Political party | Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party |
| Spouse | Charlotte Davis |
| Children | Rita Lyell, Harry Davis Jr., Richard Davis, Evan Davis |
William Harry Davis, Sr. (April 12, 1923 – August 11, 2006) was an American civil rights activist, amateur boxing coach, civic leader, and businessman in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He overcame poverty, childhood polio, and racial prejudice to become a humanitarian. Davis is remembered for his warm and positive personality, for coaching Golden Gloves champions in the upper Midwest, and for managing the Olympics boxing team that won nine gold medals. His contributions to public education in his community are enduring. A leader in desegregation during the Civil Rights Movement, Davis helped Americans find a way forward to racial equality.