Daniel "Danny" Davis

Daniel "Danny" Davis, age 64, of Benton, passed away Tuesday, January 14, 2014. He was born on March 14, 1949, in Hopper, the son of William Caleb Davis and Sarah Price Davis. On January 1, 1979, he was married to Marta Pipkin. He was preceded in death by his parents; and three sisters, Jean Davis Coleman, Mary Ellen Davis and Gloria Davis. Danny was a 1966 graduate of Caddo Gap High School and a 1971 graduate of Henderson State University, where he set and achieved many outstanding records. While at Henderson State he was a member of the Reddie's Basketball team, where he scored 2, 075 points in his basketball career averaging 18 points per game and during the 1968-1969 season he averaged 21 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. He maintains the second all time scoring in school history, with 974 rebounds, with 8.5 average per game and was third in career rebounds. He was All Conference for the years 1969, 1970, 1971, NAIA ALL-District for the years 1969, 1970, 1971, NAIA All Tournament Team in 1969 and NAIA ALL-AMERICAN for 1969, 1970 and 1971. He scored 105 points in four games in the National Tournament, averaging 26.25 points per game. In the summer of 1969 Danny was one of 12 players selected to tour Africa and Europe on behalf of the USA and in 1971 he was selected as Senior Athlete at Henderson State University. As a senior he connected on 61% of his shots, ranked in TOP TEN NATIONALLY and in one stretch connected for double figures in over 50 games for over three seasons. He was selected in Round #7 by the New York Knicks of the NBA. Danny was inducted into Henderson's Hall of Honor in 1998 and in Jan 29, 2005, his jersey was retired and continues to hang from the gym at Henderson. No other player will ever wear Danny's jersey. After leaving college and going into the working field, for many years he was a coach, teacher and school administrator for area schools in Arkansas, where he impacted many young people's lives and will be remembered by young and old for years to come. While Danny achieved many outstanding honors in his lifetime, his greatest and most precious gift was his daughter, Lauren, whom he dearly loved with all his heart. He was a wonderful husband and father and was loved and cherished by his family. His daughter knew she was the luckiest girl in the world to have been blessed with having had the "Best Daddy" anyone could ever ask for. He will truly be missed by all that knew and loved him, but his memory will live on in their hearts forever. He is survived by his loving wife Marta Davis of Benton; his daughter, the true light of his life, Lauren Clow and her husband, Degen, of Little Rock; his newest pride and joy, his grandson, Davis Clow of Little Rock; his siblings, Helen Robinson of Bokoshe, Oklahoma, Wilburn Davis of San Marcus, Texas, Faye George of Spring, Texas, Bonnie Reid of Sugarland, Texas, Nelda Walker of Giddings, Texas, James and Karen Davis of Midwest City, Oklahoma and Frank and Judy Davis of Edmondson, Oklahoma; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of wonderful friends. A Celebration of Danny's Life will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, January 18, 2014, in the Davis-Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Glenwood with Frank Davis and James Davis officiating. There will be a private family graveside service. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Dunning, Gary Tackett, Carl Coffman and James Boley. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in memory of Danny to the Hopper Cemetery Fund, c/o Mary Hollifield, 45 Hollifield Lane, Caddo Gap, Arkansas, 71935. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.