Walter “Buddy” Davis overcame tremendous obstacles to become a world-class athlete. Stricken with polio as a child, both of his legs and his right arm were paralyzed. He was unable to walk for three years but eventually recovered through determination and physical therapy.

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Entering Nederland High School in 1944, Davis lettered as a forward in basketball. Standing 6′ 7″ as a junior, he became the team’s starting center. By his senior year, at 6′ 8″, he accounted for more than 60 percent of his team’s points, scoring 648 points in 21 games, and was a three-time All-District selection.

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He also excelled in track and field, winning the high jump at a district meet with a 5′ 8″ leap — without any prior practice. As a senior, he cleared 6′ 1½″ to win the regional title but chose to skip the state meet to help his baseball team capture the district championship.

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Davis enrolled at Texas A&M University in 1948 on a basketball scholarship. He led the freshman team in scoring with 162 points in 12 games, then posted 237 points in his first varsity season — leading the nation with 101 fouls in 24 games.

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As a track athlete, Davis set numerous high-jump records. As a college senior, he cleared 6′ 9″ to set a Texas Relays record, tied for the NCAA title at 6′ 8″, and set a new Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) mark at 6′ 10½″. He then won the gold medal in the high jump at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics with a record-setting leap of 6 feet, 8¼ inches (2.04 meters).

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The Philadelphia Warriors selected Davis in the second round (14th overall) of the 1952 NBA Draft. He spent six seasons in the NBA with the Warriors and St. Louis Hawks, averaging 4.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.

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After retiring from professional sports, Davis returned to Southeast Texas, where he taught and coached for several years. He later worked as an operator for Texaco Refinery in Port Arthur before retiring. Remembered for his humility, determination, and quiet strength, Davis became an inspiration to generations who faced adversity, showing that perseverance can turn even the greatest challenges into triumphs.

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Davis was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1964 and the Texas Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016. He is also a member of the Museum of the Gulf Coast Sports Hall of Fame.