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William "Willie" D. Davenport (June 8, 1943 – June 17, 2002) was an American sprint runner. He attended Howland High School and a college at Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He competed in the 110 m hurdles at the 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics, winning a gold medal in 1968 and a bronze in 1976, and finishing fourth in 1972. In 1980 he took part in the Winter Olympics as a runner for the American bobsleigh team. Because of the boycott, and the quirk of participating in the Winter Olympics, he was the only U.S. track and field athlete to participate in the 1980 Olympics.[1][2]
Davenport took part in his first Olympics in 1964, but injured his thigh and was eliminated in the semifinals. In Mexico City in 1968, he reached the final and won: "From the first step, the gun, I knew I had won the race." In 1972 he finished fourth, and in his third consecutive Olympic 110 m hurdles final, in 1976, he won a bronze medal. At his last Olympics in 1980 he was a bobsleigh runner, ending up 12th in the four-man competition. Davenport's other achievements include five national championships in the 60 yard hurdles indoor event.[1]
By participating in the 1980 bobsleigh competition, Willie became the first African American to compete in the Winter Olympics for the USA.
Davenport was a U.S. Army private at the time of his first Olympic participation, he was a Colonel in the United States Army National Guard at the time of his death. He died of a heart attack at age 59 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on June 17, 2002. He was survived by daughter Tanya, sons Willie and Mark and fiancee Barbara Henry.[3]
In 1977 he was inducted into the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame,[4] and in 1982 into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.[5]
Davenport took part in his first Olympics in 1964, but injured his thigh and was eliminated in the semifinals. In Mexico City in 1968, he reached the final and won: "From the first step, the gun, I knew I had won the race." In 1972 he finished fourth, and in his third consecutive Olympic 110 m hurdles final, in 1976, he won a bronze medal. At his last Olympics in 1980 he was a bobsleigh runner, ending up 12th in the four-man competition. Davenport's other achievements include five national championships in the 60 yard hurdles indoor event.[1]
By participating in the 1980 bobsleigh competition, Willie became the first African American to compete in the Winter Olympics for the USA.
Davenport was a U.S. Army private at the time of his first Olympic participation, he was a Colonel in the United States Army National Guard at the time of his death. He died of a heart attack at age 59 at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on June 17, 2002. He was survived by daughter Tanya, sons Willie and Mark and fiancee Barbara Henry.[3]
In 1977 he was inducted into the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame,[4] and in 1982 into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.[5]
Willie Davenport - Wikipedia
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Maj Marty Hogan I remember watching Willie Davenport during the different Olympic games where he was a participant. Thanks for the post.
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Olympic Champion Willie Davenport lovingly called Breeze shows off his hurdling skills
Thank you my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that June 8 is the anniversary of the birth of American sprint runner William "Willie" D. Davenport.
Background from
"Willie Davenport Biography
Track and Field Athlete, Athlete, Military Leader (1943–2002)
American track star Willie Davenport won a gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics and competed at the 1980 Winter Games with the U.S. bobsled team.
Synopsis
Willie Davenport was born on June 8, 1943, in Troy, Alabama. He won gold in the 110-meter high hurdles at the 1968 Olympics, and claimed several national championships in that event as well as in the 60-meter hurdles. Named to the 1980 U.S. Olympic bobsled team, Davenport became one of the first two African Americans to compete at the Winter Olympics, as well as only the fourth American to compete in both the Summer and Winter Games. He died in Chicago, Illinois, in 2002.
Early Years
Track and field athlete and military officer Willie D. Davenport was born on June 8, 1943, in Troy, Alabama. After his family moved to Warren, Ohio, he became a star for the Howland High School track team. Despite setting a state record with his time in the 120-meter hurdles as a senior, Davenport did not draw much attention from college track and field programs, and enrolled in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper after graduating in 1961.
Track and Field Stardom
Willie Davenport ran track at local sports club while stationed in Mainz, Germany, from 1961 to 63. Relatively unknown to the track and field community, he pulled off a surprise upset with his victory in the 110-meter high hurdles at the 1964 U.S. Olympic Trials. Unfortunately, he suffered a pulled thigh muscle before the start of competition at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan—an injury that led to his early exit in the semifinals.
After earning his discharge from the Army in 1965, Davenport enrolled at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He quickly emerged as a standout for the powerhouse track program, winning the national championship in the 110-meter high hurdles from 1965 to '67, and the 60-yard hurdles in '66 and '67.
At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Davenport made up for his prior missed opportunity by equaling an Olympic record in the 110-meter high hurdles to win a gold medal. However, his performance was overshadowed by the famous "black power" salute of teammates Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the medal podium for the 200-meter event.
Davenport tied the 110-meter high hurdles world record of 13.2 seconds in July 1969, and notched seven world indoor best marks that year. He also reigned as national champion in the 60-meter hurdles from 1969 to '71, demonstrating an ease in his craft that earned him the nickname "Breeze."
"He would just flow over them like the wind," said John Smith, an Olympic teammate of Davenport's. "He was just that efficient as a hurdler."
Davenport finished a disappointing fourth in the 110-meter high hurdles at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, West Germany. A return to the Olympics for a fourth time seemed unlikely after he ruptured a tendon in his knee at the 1975 AAU outdoor championships, but he bounced back with an impressive bronze medal-winning performance in his signature event at the 1976 Games in Montreal, Canada.
Bobsledding History
Not long after, Davenport and fellow track and field athlete Jeff Gadley were accepted to the U.S. bobsledding team for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York—making them the first African Americans on a Winter Olympic team, and Davenport only the fourth American to compete at both the Summer and Winter Games. Although the U.S. team finished well out of the running in 12th place, Davenport was proud of his historical accomplishment.
Post-Competitive Career
Davenport was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1982, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1990.
Davenport held several positions after stepping away from the track, serving on the National Fitness Leaders Association, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and the National Black College Alumni Association. He also coached the All-Army men's and women's track teams to four undefeated seasons from 1993 to '96.
Davenport became a colonel in the Army National Guard was working as chief of the National Guard Bureau's Office of Sports Management when he suffered a fatal heart attack at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on June 17, 2002."
Olympic Champion Willie Davenport lovingly called Breeze shows off his hurdling skills
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhcNryJS5p4
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright [~394024:Cpl Gabriel Fostek
Background from
"Willie Davenport Biography
Track and Field Athlete, Athlete, Military Leader (1943–2002)
American track star Willie Davenport won a gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics and competed at the 1980 Winter Games with the U.S. bobsled team.
Synopsis
Willie Davenport was born on June 8, 1943, in Troy, Alabama. He won gold in the 110-meter high hurdles at the 1968 Olympics, and claimed several national championships in that event as well as in the 60-meter hurdles. Named to the 1980 U.S. Olympic bobsled team, Davenport became one of the first two African Americans to compete at the Winter Olympics, as well as only the fourth American to compete in both the Summer and Winter Games. He died in Chicago, Illinois, in 2002.
Early Years
Track and field athlete and military officer Willie D. Davenport was born on June 8, 1943, in Troy, Alabama. After his family moved to Warren, Ohio, he became a star for the Howland High School track team. Despite setting a state record with his time in the 120-meter hurdles as a senior, Davenport did not draw much attention from college track and field programs, and enrolled in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper after graduating in 1961.
Track and Field Stardom
Willie Davenport ran track at local sports club while stationed in Mainz, Germany, from 1961 to 63. Relatively unknown to the track and field community, he pulled off a surprise upset with his victory in the 110-meter high hurdles at the 1964 U.S. Olympic Trials. Unfortunately, he suffered a pulled thigh muscle before the start of competition at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan—an injury that led to his early exit in the semifinals.
After earning his discharge from the Army in 1965, Davenport enrolled at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He quickly emerged as a standout for the powerhouse track program, winning the national championship in the 110-meter high hurdles from 1965 to '67, and the 60-yard hurdles in '66 and '67.
At the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, Davenport made up for his prior missed opportunity by equaling an Olympic record in the 110-meter high hurdles to win a gold medal. However, his performance was overshadowed by the famous "black power" salute of teammates Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the medal podium for the 200-meter event.
Davenport tied the 110-meter high hurdles world record of 13.2 seconds in July 1969, and notched seven world indoor best marks that year. He also reigned as national champion in the 60-meter hurdles from 1969 to '71, demonstrating an ease in his craft that earned him the nickname "Breeze."
"He would just flow over them like the wind," said John Smith, an Olympic teammate of Davenport's. "He was just that efficient as a hurdler."
Davenport finished a disappointing fourth in the 110-meter high hurdles at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, West Germany. A return to the Olympics for a fourth time seemed unlikely after he ruptured a tendon in his knee at the 1975 AAU outdoor championships, but he bounced back with an impressive bronze medal-winning performance in his signature event at the 1976 Games in Montreal, Canada.
Bobsledding History
Not long after, Davenport and fellow track and field athlete Jeff Gadley were accepted to the U.S. bobsledding team for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York—making them the first African Americans on a Winter Olympic team, and Davenport only the fourth American to compete at both the Summer and Winter Games. Although the U.S. team finished well out of the running in 12th place, Davenport was proud of his historical accomplishment.
Post-Competitive Career
Davenport was inducted into the USA Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1982, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1990.
Davenport held several positions after stepping away from the track, serving on the National Fitness Leaders Association, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, and the National Black College Alumni Association. He also coached the All-Army men's and women's track teams to four undefeated seasons from 1993 to '96.
Davenport became a colonel in the Army National Guard was working as chief of the National Guard Bureau's Office of Sports Management when he suffered a fatal heart attack at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport on June 17, 2002."
Olympic Champion Willie Davenport lovingly called Breeze shows off his hurdling skills
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhcNryJS5p4
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Marty Hogan SCPO Morris Ramsey SSG John Ross SGT Mark Halmrast Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Gregory Lawritson CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright [~394024:Cpl Gabriel Fostek
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