1/7/20 – 8/2/07
Ellis Roger Davis was born on January 7, 1920 in Greenwood, SC to Jesse and Iola Davis and raised in Asheville, NC with two sisters and four brothers by his father and step mother, Ruth Davis.
Davis began his love affair with golf while working as a caddy at the local golf course and he moved to New York City in his early years to live with his Grandmother, Anna Mariah Butler.
He enlisted in the Army (October 1941) and was stationed in the Pacific as an anti-aircraft gunner and earned the American Defense Service Medal, American Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged in October 1945 and returned home to Corona, NY where he worked at Kennedy Airport and continued to pursue his passion for golf.
Davis married Betty Gaines on February 4, 1961 and moved to Jamaica, NY where he will be missed as a loving, protective and supportive father. They had three children. Along with his passion for golf was the love for Cadillac cars and listening to jazz.
He was a member of the Dunbar Golf Club in Manhattan where he won numerous trophies and awards. He was also Inducted into The National Black Golf Hall of Fame in July 1997 and selected by his peers for his long-standing accomplishments in the game.
On January 30, 2008 the legacy and contributions of Mr. Ellis Davis will be honored by the Generation of Color Foundation and the African American Golfers Digest at the 2008 Super Bowl Celebrity Golf Tournament and Banquet Dinner fundraiser. Tiffany Williams, President of the Generation of Color Foundation states, ”Mr. Davis legacy to his family and community reflects the mission statement of our organization’s commitment to help minority children, to pursue quality education, is just one of the reason’s, we wanted to honor him.
The 2008 Celebrity Golf Classic and banquet will be held on January 30th and 31st and will take place at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. The event will be hosted by Santana Dodson, a 12-year veteran of the National Football League. For information call (602) 696-7442.
