Wink Davenport

Winthrop "Wink" Davenport Jr. (April 12, 1942 – May 3, 2022) was an American lead volleyball official, former college basketball player, former National team volleyball player. He is best remembered as the most prominent volleyball official in the United States, arising from his frequent service as a volleyball referee officiating the nation's most important matches. He is a holder of U.S.A. Volleyball's 1996 Wilbur H. Peck Referee – Emeritus Award.<ref name="Peck">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Biography

Davenport was born in Binghamton, New York on April 12, 1942, the second of three children of Winthrop Davenport and the former Elizabeth Mae Langford.<ref name='NYSBI-Davenport'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name='USPCR-W-Davenport'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name='USPCR-D-Davenport'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name='USPCR-E-Davenport'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name='MNSDI-Thorpe'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Davenport has an older brother David Andrus Davenport (born 1939)<ref name='USPCR-D-Davenport'/> and had a younger sister, Edith Lynne Davenport (1948 - 2014).<ref name='USPCR-E-Davenport'/><ref name='MNSDI-Thorpe'/> He was baptized at First Presbyterian Church in Binghamton on June 20, 1943.<ref name='USPCR-W-Davenport'/> He was awarded a scholarship to play basketball at Wesleyan, where he had a distinguished college career. United Press International named him first-team small college all-New England.<ref name= Wesleyan>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was captain of the basketball team his senior year.<ref name= Wesleyan/> He left Wesleyan holding the school record for most points scored in a game (44) and for career scoring average (19.6).<ref name= Wesleyan/> In addition to basketball, Davenport lettered twice as a member of the Wesleyan golf team.<ref name= Wesleyan/> At Wesleyan he joined Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

In the late 1950s Davenport became active playing AAU volleyball at a YMCA in his hometown of Binghamton, New York.<ref name= Wesleyan/> In 1966 he moved to Santa Monica, California,<ref name=SI>Template:Cite magazine</ref> where he joined the Santa Monica Volleyball club team. The team was one of the top amateur teams in the nation, and competed at the USVBA Open Nationals. Following the tournament Davenport was selected for the US National Men's Volleyball Team. He competed at the 1967 Pan American Games, where the team won the gold medal. In 1968 he played on the National Team when it competed at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City.<ref name=Off>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following year, he was again selected to play on the National team at the 1969 World Cup.<ref name=SROS>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1971 Davenport captained Santa Monica's USVBA club team, which won the USVBA National Championship in the Men's Open Division. He earned All-America honors at the tournament.<ref name= Wesleyan/><ref name=SI/> Davenport remained a member of the US National team through 1971.<ref name=SROS/>

Davenport retired from playing competitively at the end of 1971 due to chronic knee problems. However his involvement in the game continued as an official.<ref name=SROS/> In this capacity he made his largest contribution to the sport. Davenport earned his national certification in 1971, and soon was considered one of the nation's top officials.<ref name=USVBA>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He officiated at the USA Cup, the World Junior Championships, the World Championships, the World Cup and the Olympics.<ref name= Wesleyan/> Davenport officiated at 11 NCAA Men's National Collegiate Volleyball Championships and six NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championships from 1980 through 1990.<ref name= Wesleyan/> He also officiated at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.<ref name=LA>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Davenport served as a board member of the U.S. Volleyball Association from 1971 through 1977, and served as vice president of the USVBA from 1973 through 1976.<ref name= Wesleyan/> He was the secretary of the international referees committee of Fédération Internationale de Volleyball from 1992 through 1996.<ref name=LA/> Davenport retired as an active official in 1995, and has continued on in emeritus status since 1996.<ref name=USVBA/> Davenport was referee delegate to the Olympic games held in Atlanta in 1996.<ref name= Wesleyan/>

Davenport was married and has three children. He met his wife, Ann L. Jeberjahn, on the volleyball courts in Southern California.<ref name=SI/><ref name='CASMI-Jeberjahn'>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The couple married in Los Angeles on April 19, 1970.<ref name='CASMI-Jeberjahn'/> Ann became president of the Southern California Volleyball Association.<ref name=LA/> His oldest two daughters, Leiann and Shannon, both went to college on volleyball scholarships, Leiann at UC Irvine and Shannon at St. Mary's College.<ref name=LA/> Davenport's youngest daughter, Lindsay, became a tennis player, winning the 1996 Olympic gold medal and three Grand Slam singles titles: the US Open (1998), Wimbledon (1999), and the Australian Open (2000).<ref name=SROS/>

In 1996 Davenport was selected for U.S.A. Volleyball's Wilbur H. Peck Referee – Emeritus Award.<ref name="Peck"/> He was inducted into the Wesleyan Hall of Fame in 2009.<ref name= Wesleyan/> Davenport died on May 3, 2022, at the age of 80.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Retired and Emeritus National Referees, USA Volleyball