Positively Milwaukee

Former Packer Willie Davis

Tools

Former Packer Willie Davis

By Jenn Rourke

He played in the Packers’ first two Super Bowls in the 1960's. He made All-Pro five times during the Packer glory years. During his 12 year career, he never missed a game. That was just the beginning of Willie Davis’s path to success. Davis took his place as one of the great defensive ends in pro football history. He's one of the Packer greats who made his mark under legendary coach Vince Lombardi. "I remember Coach Lombardi once said 'You don't become successful or you don't get there in one step,'" Davis said. But Davis also learned to play in a different stadium. Today, the former defensive lineman is one of the most successful black entrepreneurs in the world. But Davis is so down to earth he’s not afraid to display the inside of his refrigerator at his Milwaukee condo. "I can assure you, I didn’t inherit anything but hard times," he laughs. "Nobody's given me anything." But joking aside, Davis said blacks and whites have helped him along the way. But Davis also helped himself. After 12 years in professional football, he made a career conversion. "I went back to the University of Chicago, got an MBA and made myself business savvy," he explained. Davis, raised by a single mother, said one of his proudest accomplishments was to make enough money so his mother could retire. "When I was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1981, she was actually there, cried all the way the way through the whole event," Davis remembered. "And I said 'Mom, this is a long way from Texarkana,' and no one ever told us it would lead to here." Today, Davis is president of a broadcasting corporation, which owns three Milwaukee radio stations. But for Davis, it’s not all about money. "I really, until a few years ago, I didn’t have an idea myself of what my net worth was because it really didn’t matter to me," said nonchalantly. Davis is one of few blacks invited to sit on the corporate boards of major companies, including Johnson Controls, We Energies and Manpower. Despite being an NFL Hall of Famer and a mogul, Davis still has time for the community. Recently, Davis received the lifetime achievement award from the Mother Kathryn Daniels Conference Center. Davis's company, All Pro Broadcasting owns WLUM FM 102.1, WMCS AM 1290, and WJZI FM 93.3.

advertisement