L-R: David Archie and Glenn Davis at the 2019 Valspar Championship
(March 22, 2019)
David Archie (left) and Glenn Davis (right) are native Floridians, born and raised in Tarpon Springs. Tarpon Springs is the sister city to Palm Harbor, host of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Golf Resort. This tournament is being played just a hop, skip and jump from Tampa.
I ran into these two very distinguished gentlemen while canvassing around the Championship.
Both of them are true pioneers and trailblazers in their own right. David Archie was Tarpon Springs first black Mayor from 2010-2013 and was loved so well by the community until he was re-elected (running unopposed) for the 2013-2016 term. Even though the city wanted him back again, he couldn’t run for reelection in 2016 because of election rules. But, he is currently seeking to run again for the upcoming 2019-2022 term.
Archie is also Executive Director of a non-profit organization called “Citizens Alliance For Progress“. They reach out to the community in numerous ways including helping the elderly, helping students obtain their GED’s, providing mentoring programs for neglected youth, and more.
Glenn Davis was the first black City Commissioner for Tarpon Springs, from 1987-1992. Tarpon Springs is located on the Gulf of Mexico and its name comes from the local Tarpon fish that is found there in abundance. The first African Americans settled in Tarpon Springs in the mid-1880s, primarily to work in the lumber mills and the citrus industry. Tarpon Springs celebrated the city’s 100th birthday in 1987.
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Davis says when given time to enjoy travel, his favorite vacation destination is the Virgin Islands. In the photo he’s wearing the Howard University sweatshirt because his son graduated from there in 2014, achieving a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.
Both David and Glenn are non-golfers. They say they like watching the game and prefer leaving the playing up to the professionals….”Go figure,” I say while scratching my head. They also told me that they each plan to return to the Copperhead course for the Valspar Championship again, same time next year.
All is well at The Players Championship. Stay tuned!
John Perry is a freelance writer, poet and active golfer with a passion for calling shots as he sees them—and then, telling it like it is. He resides in Orlando, Florida.
