1934 ~ 2000

Otho Davis, a certified and licensed athletic trainer, was one of the most highly respected men in his field. Spending 27 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, Davis' skills had been continuously recognized by the National Athletic Trainers' Association which has named him "Professional Trainer of the Year" five times (1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, and 1987) and inducted him into the Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame in 1981. On May 1, 1993 Davis was also enshrined into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame - Philadelphia Chapter. In 1982, he received the Distinguished Service Award for Sports Medicine from the American Orthopedics Society for Sports Medicine. His other honors include having been inducted into the Southwest Athletic Trainers' Association (Texas and Arkansas) Hall of Fame in 1987 and being a member of "Who's Who in the East." He is also a member of the Kent State University Hall of Fame and an Honorary member of the Kent State Varsity "K". Davis also held memberships in various professional organizations, including the International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association.

  Davis was also nominated in April, 1993 by the Professional Football Writers Association (PFWA) for the Horrigan Award. This honor is bestowed upon the league or club official or player for his qualities and professional style in helping pro football writers do his or her job.

  Davis formerly served as the charter president of the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers Society. From 1971 to 1989 he also was the executive director of the NATA, an organization whose national headquarters office building in Dallas is named in his honor.

  Davis was a member of the Board of Advisors of the Ed Block Courage Award which honors a player from all 28 NFL teams each season who, in the eyes of their teammates, best displays courage. He also was a member of the Board of Governors of the Maxwell Football Club and was a past member of the executive committee of the Professional Athletic Trainers' Society.

  A native of Elgin, TX, Davis, 61 (2/8/34), attended South Park High in Beaumont (TX) and later earned a B.S. degree in physical education from Lamar University in 1957 and an M.A. degree in 1964 from Kent State, where he was head trainer from 1957-1965. Prior to that, he served in the U.S. Army Medical Service Corp from 1954-56 with the United States Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and was trainer for the Beaumont (TX) "Exporter" baseball club in 1956.

  Davis became head trainer and assistant professor of physical education at Duke in 1965 before joining the Baltimore Colts in 1971 as an associate trainer and the Eagles in 1973 as head trainer.

  With the Eagles, Davis, who was named to CBS' 1993 All-Maden Team, supervises a training facility and program that rank among the best in professional sports, using state-of-the-art systems for training and rehabilitation practices. He also was very active in the education of young trainers and has established a unique program to give outstanding prospects an opportunity to work on the professional level.

  Davis resided in Mount Laurel, NJ.  He is the father of four sons: Mark, 45, Harry Roy, 40, Richard, 38, and Tom, 35.