FOUNDER OF PIAA TO BE HONORED
Dr. Charles S. Davis, 81-year-old founder of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association will be signally honored at the fortieth annual banquet of the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League in the William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh, on Saturday February 16.
The W.P.I.A.L., organized in 1905, seven years before Doctor Davis began to organize the P.I.A.A., is composed of many schools who were among the first to enter the Statewide organization. It now has a membership of 167 schools, President Mark Funk of Latrobe reported in announcing plans for the gala event.
Meetings of the P.LA.A. Board of Control and the W.P.I.A.L. district committee will be held prior to the banquet.
A native of Perry County, Doctor Davis began his teaching career in Thompsontown but transferred to Steelton where he was high school principal for 31 years and superinendent of schools for 16 years. He was retired in 1935.
One of the pioneer enthusiasts for clean sports, he started to organize the P.LA.A. in 1912 and in the next twenty years saw that organization grow from one of 35 members to one of the largest bodies affiliated to the National Federation of State High School Athletic associations. Through the early years of the P.I.A.A's existence, Doctor Davis personally underwrote many of its expenses, so interested was he in clean sports for the State's youth.
The Steelton educator served as the P.LA.A. president for many years, in addition to acting in the capacity of executive director for no form of remuneration. Some years ago he was named honorary president for life and although he has retired from active participation, his counsel to the P.I.A.A. Has been an invaluable contribution to the steady progress of schoolboy athletics in this State.
~ Bellwood Bulletin, 14-Feb-1946, Page 1, Column 4
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