(1921 – 1983) A legend of Oregon sports writing, Leo Davis had the talent to be both cruel and kind, long before punditry and hyperbole held center stage in sports journalism.

The California native anchored the sports department at the Redmond Spokesman, in Redmond, Oregon, from 1949-1960 before beginning a memorable 23 year run as writer and columnist at the Oregonian. The Oregon sports scene was different then. With no major league sports, there were stories to be told about big events both at home and away. Davis noted the 1965 final 4 played at Memorial Coliseum was a “Weekend surrendered to basketball.”

Leo Davis also brought stories home from far flung events. He traveled to three Olympic games, 1968, ’72 and ’76 and became known for his coverage of track and field and the Oregon athletes representing team USA.

Davis also enjoyed writing about wrestling. His prose was lean and to the point. Of Iowa and USA wrestling legend Dan Gabel, Leo wrote in the Oregonian in 1972, “Gable trains as if he’s going to row stroke on a slave galley.”
Leo Davis also saw the uniqueness of the athlete. His touching obituary of wrestler Rick Sanders who died young in an accident after offending the sensibilities of the wrestling establishment with his free-spirited ways still touches the reader 40 years later.

Davis was a mentor and sounding board for young sportswriters. His contemporaries knew his talent and showed their respect. They selected him seven times as Oregon sportswriter of the year in balloting of the National Association of Sportswriters and Sportscasters.

Davis passed away in 1983 at the age of 62. His excellence lives on in a generation of Oregon journalists.