Roger Davis obit

Roger Davis Obituary

 

He was not on the list.

Roger W. Davis of Chardon, OH passed away on March 6th at the ripened age of 85. Born June 23rd, 1938 in Cleveland to Roger & Hazel Davis, he is survived by son, Roger (wife Brandi), daughters, Lee & Heidi, and predeceased by son, Clayton. He also leaves behind his devoted brother, Reginald (wife Marie) and sister, Peggy (husband Russ). His brother, Russell (wife Susan), preceded him in death.

“Big Rog” died peacefully but lived vivaciously.  He was a bit of a rogue and rake, utilizing more accelerator than brakes.  He took chances, mainly on racehorses and field trial dogs, but also on cards and romances.  Roger was big and lived large. At 6’3” and 240 pounds in his heyday, Roger was part of Syracuse’s 1959 “Sizable Seven” football squad, winner of the Knute Rockne Award, an All-American, and an NFL first round draft choice for the Chicago Bears with whom he played on the World Championship team in 1963. He passed his athletic prowess onto his grandsons, Roger and Ryder (Roger & Brandi), Andrew and John (Lee), and Sam and Max (Heidi). He leaves granddaughter, Brooke (Lee). The “Davis thighs” are evident in his two great grandchildren, April and Marshall, who already look to be formidably fit and strong.

Roger, AKA “Hound Dog”, was ever the life of the party; quick to buy a round and slow to leave the “pack”.  He ran through life off-leash, without a collar, out of the kennel, but sometimes in the doghouse.  Despite multiple debilitating health issues, Roger maintained a shockingly good attitude right up until his death, even cracking jokes and ribbing visitors in his final days.  Rest in peace, Rog!

He played offensive lineman for seven seasons for the Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Rams, and the New York Giants. He was drafted by the Bears in the first round (7th overall) of the 1960 NFL Draft, and is one of only two guards drafted in the first round by the team (Kyle Long being the other).