Willie Davenport
Original name William D. Davenport
Born June 8, 1943, Troy, Alabama
Died June 17, 2002
Track and Field Athlete


Willie Davenport
Track and field athlete. Born William D. Davenport on June 8, 1943 in Troy, Alabama. An Army private, Willie Davenport was the surprise winner of the 110-meter hurdles at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1964. An injury cost him the Olympic Games that year, but he went on to compete three more times, winning the title in Mexico in 1968. He finished fourth in 1972 and won the bronze in 1976.

Arguably Davenport’s best event, however, was the 60-yard hurdles, which is not on the Olympic program. He was national champion in that event five times. In 1980, he was the runner for a four-man bobsled team at the winter Olympics in Lake Placid, making him the fourth American to compete in both the summer and winter games.

Davenport rose through Army ranks to serve as Colonel of the United States National Guard. He died of a heart attack on June 17, 2002.

Career Highlights