Ralph Davis obit

Ralph Davis, Jr., Cincinnati Bearcats All-American guard who played for Royals, dies at 82

 He was not on the list.

Ralph Davis, Jr., a star guard who earned All-American recognition in 1960 and played for University of Cincinnati Bearcats teams that reached the NCAA Tournament Final Four at the conclusion of the 1958-59 and 1959-60 seasons, died Sunday at age 82, according to his family.

Davis also played one season for the Cincinnati Royals in 1960-61. He later lived in Reading.

Davis averaged 5.4 points per game in 73 games for the Royals, which selected him in the third round of the 1960 NBA Draft. He also played one season for the NBA's expansion Chicago Packers in 1961.

Davis' 1,093 career points ranked sixth in UC history when he graduated in 1960. As a junior during the 1958-59 season, Davis averaged 15.5 points (second only to Oscar Robertson), 4.4 assists and 2.0 rebounds and earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors. He averaged 13.7 points per game - again, second to Robertson - and was named All-MVC for the second time.

The Bearcats won back-to-back national championships after Davis and Robertson left UC.

Davis was inducted into the University of Cincinnati Athletics Hall Of Fame in 1981.

From Davis' obituary on Legacy.com:

Ralph was a loving husband and father. He was an All American and a proud UC Bearcat. He played NBA basketball with the Cincinnati Royals, Chicago Packers, and St. Louis Hawks. Ralph will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Visitation will be 9-11 AM, Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Mihovk-Rosenacker Funeral Home, 10211 Plainfield Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45241. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM, immediately following the visitation at the funeral home. Interment will be at Rest Haven Memorial Park.

 

Career information

High school            Lewis County (Vanceburg, Kentucky)

College            Cincinnati (1957–1960)

NBA draft            1960: 3rd round, 17th overall pick

Selected by the Cincinnati Royals

Playing career            1960–1962

Position            Shooting guard

Number            10, 25

Career history

1960–1961            Cincinnati Royals

1961–1962            Chicago Packers

Career highlights and awards