Benjamin Frank "Ben" Davis (born October 30, 1945) is a former Professional sports, professional American football cornerback and return specialist for ten years in the National Football League. He is the brother of political activist Angela Davis.

Early years

Benjamin Davis was born in 1945 in Birmingham, Alabama.Where are they now?
/ref> His father, a graduate of St. Augustine's College (North Carolina), St. Augustine's College, a Historically black colleges and universities, traditional black college in Raleigh, North Carolina, was briefly a high school history teacher, but found it more lucrative to own and operate a Filling station, service station in the black section of Birmingham.Angela Davis arrested
/ref> His mother, with an Master of Arts, MA from New York University, was an elementary school teacher. The family owned a large home in a middle class mixed neighborhood called "Dynamite Hill" after so-called "night rider" terrorists began 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, bomb attacks on civil rights leaders clustered there. To avoid the racial strife for which Dynamite Hill was named, children in the Davis family spent time with friends and relatives elsewhere. Davis graduated from Fair Lawn High School in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, at the age of 15, then marked time by attending Bridgton Academy, a University-preparatory school, prep school in Maine until he was old enough to enroll in Defiance College in rural Defiance, Ohio. "I went to Defiance because I was looking for the same type of environment as the prep school," Davis told Fred Greetham in 2001. "I was in the band in high school, but I decided to go out for the football team in college. By the time we were seniors, we were undefeated."

Professional career

Davis was NFL Draft, drafted in the 17th (and last) round by the Cleveland Browns in the 1967 NFL Draft.Browns draft history
With Paul Warfield, Gary Collins (American football), Gary Collins and Clifton McNeil already established as receivers, Davis was switched to a Defense (sports), defensive role—and he did well. In his rookie year, he led the league in punt returns, averaging 12.7 yards per return, and one 52-yard return for a touchdown. He also led the Browns in Kickoff return, returning kickoffs, with 27 returns totalling 708 yards, including one of 63 yards. Only Leroy Kelly (15.6), Greg Pruitt (12.9) and Eric Metcalf (12.9) ever had better years, returning punts for the Browns. In 1968, Davis started at cornerback, and led the team with 8 interceptions. Others were nipping at his heels: the season's 32 interceptions that year set a Browns' record. His individual performance is the 3rd-best in Browns history - and he still holds the record for seven consecutive games with an interception. A torn anterior cruciate ligament benched Davis during the 1969 Cleveland Browns season, 1969 season, and half the 1970 Cleveland Browns season, 1970 season. He was traded to the Detroit Lions in 1974 for a 5th-round draft pick. The Browns picked Jim Cope from Ohio State University, who fared poorly in the NFL. Davis, however, played two more seasons for the Lions before retiring from the field.

Post-NFL

Davis went into Photocopier, copier sales after his football career ended, then went into cable television and bought a radio station in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Since 1995, he has owned and operated Britt Business Systems, a Xerox dealer, in the Cleveland, Ohio, Cleveland suburb of Beachwood, Ohio. Davis has lived in Cleveland since 1967, even commuting to Detroit when he played for the Lions.

Personal life

Davis and his wife Sylvia have two grown children
Cecilie
an
Ben III
who both live in California. Davis's sister, Angela Davis, is a prominent Activism, political activist. A younger brother, Reggie Davis, also attended Defiance College.Defiance College, ''Defiance College Defender'', November 10, 1970

External links

NFL.com player page

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Ben 1945 births Living people Players of American football from Birmingham, Alabama Players of American football from Cleveland American Conference Pro Bowl players American football cornerbacks American football return specialists Cleveland Browns players Detroit Lions players Defiance Yellow Jackets football players Fair Lawn High School alumni