Roger Davis

Roger Davis grew up in Antioch, where his natural athletic ability made him a standout in every youth sport he touched. In Little League, he set a single-season home run record with 15 and excelled in the Junior Football League.

At AHS, Roger earned varsity letters in four sports. His biggest impact came in football, where he switched from running back to Defensive End, becoming an All DVAL selection and a part of the 1966 league championship team later inducted into the ASLHOF.  He was also named to the Antioch Ledger’s “Cream of the Crop” 20-year team as one of the AHS top defense ends.

Roger stepped into wrestling his senior year to fill the team’s heavyweight spot, quickly excelling under long time coach Gerald Palmer. Coach Palmer later named him the best heavyweight wrestler of his coaching career. He also played baseball that spring, earning a one-day tryout with Los Angeles Dodgers.

Roger continued football at Diablo Valley College, Playing both defensive end and offensive tackle. He earned all-league honors and helped DVC win championships in both his seasons. Longtime DVC coach Chappie Lisle called him “one of the best offensive linemen he had ever coached.”

He then attended Arizona State University, where he played his final two seasons during one of the greatest eras in ASU football history. In 1970, the Sun Devils went 11-0, won the WAC Championship, Defeated North Carolina in the Peach Bowl, and finished as national champion under the Poling System. In 1971, ASU Repeated as WAC champions, finished eighth nationally, and won the Fiesta Bowl, where Roger, playing offensive tackle- threw the key block that sealed the victory.

After ASU and a tryout with the Houston Oilers, Roger became one of the nation’s strongest and most explosive powerlifters, where he won numerous championships.