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Allen "Al" Davis (July 4, 1929 – October 8, 2011) was the passionate and controversial owner of the Oakland Raiders football team. Starting in 1963 as head coach then becoming owner and general manager, he was a Raider for almost 50 years. It was very much his organization - and his life. Even "...the Raiders’ colors, silver and black, were chosen by Mr. Davis to intimidate." 1 He hired John Madden to coach in the team 1969-1978. The Raiders won the superbowl in 1977, 1981, and 1984.

He broke many hearts when he moved the team to Los Angeles in 1982 only to return in 1995.

Davis was the second NFL owner to hire a Latino head coach, Tom Flores, in 1979; the first to hire an African American head coach, Art Shell, in 1989; and the first to promote a woman to CEO, Amy Trask, in 1997. 2,3

Al Davis is interred at the Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland.

Links and References

  1. Al Davis, the Controversial and Combative Raiders Owner, Dies at 82 New York Times. Oct. 8, 2011
  2. Al Davis dies at 82; Oakland Raiders owner transformed team Los Angeles Times. Oct. 9, 2011
  3. Al Davis on Wikipedia

 

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