Conn will be one of the honorees on Saturday for the annual Old Timers Hall of Fame Banquet at the Museum Center at Five Points.
Honorees announced today are Gregory E. Davis, basketball and baseball; and John David Beckler, football.
Others honorees will include Bill “Chief” Robertson, coach; Bozo Queener, special category; and Michael Turner, basketball; Barkley Geren, basketball; Mable Delay Geren, basketball; and Andy Ballinger, baseball.
The Old Timers Banquet, sponsored by the Parks and Recreation Department, recognizes outstanding athletes of the past, and provides an opportunity for these individuals and their families and friends to socialize and share memories.
Charles Paul Conn
Conn has served as president of Lee University for 20 years. He took the reins at Lee after serving 14 years as a member of the psychology faculty at Lee.
He earned his doctorate degree in psychology from Emory University in 1974. He spent three years at Harvard University as a postdoctoral student in the Graduate School of Education. Conn was a visiting scholar at Harvard Divinity School in 1982. He did his undergraduate work at Lee College and George State University before earning a master of arts degree at Emory.
Conn serves on the board of directors of the Council of Independent Colleges and is chairman of the President’s Council of the Southern States Athletic Conference.
He recently completed six years as a commissioner of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, including two years as a member of the Executive Committee of the commission.
He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Appalachian Colleges Association and on the board of the Tennessee Independent Colleges and University Association. He has served three three-year terms on the national board of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.
In 2001, Conn was the recipient of the M.C. Headrick Award from the Cleveland Bradley Chamber of Commerce. He also received the Otis Floyd Award from the Tennessee College Public Relations Association in 1996.
Conn is the author of 20 books and numerous magazine articles. His books have been translated into dozens of languages. His book “Kathy,” co-written by Barbara Miller, was turned into a made-for-TV movie by Universal Studios and CBS television. The movie starred Sharon Gless and Helen Hunt. His book “Disguised,” co-written with Pat Moore, was produced and broadcast in a movie version by Japanese television. “Battle for Africa,” with Brother Andrew, was adapted as a television documentary special in South Africa and Canada.
Conn is married to Darlia McLuhan Conn. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
Gregory E. Davis
Davis is being inducted for his basketball and baseball talents.
He attended College Hill School from first through eighth grade. In the ninth grade, he moved to Arnold Middle School and to Cleveland High his sophomore year. He is a 1969 graduate of CHS.
While at Cleveland High, he played baseball, basketball and football.
“We won the state championship my senior year and I was all-state in all three sports,” Davis said.
He attended Oral Roberts University from 1969-1973, where he played basketball and baseball. He received the top athletic award — the President’s Award — which was presented by Oral Roberts.
In 1973, he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles. He played two seasons of minor league baseball.
“I played with Hall of Famer Eddie Murray and Dennis Martinez in Bluefield, W.Va., and Miami, Fla.,” he said.
After a short stay with the Orioles, he taught and coached at Cleveland High. He moved back to Tulsa, Okla., in 1976, where he worked as a graduate assistant at ORU. He taught and coached in the Tulsa Independent School System until 2000.
In 2000, he moved to Dallas where he served as a physical education teacher at Townview Center High School.
In 2011, he returned to Tulsa, where he works at Tulsa Gold and Silver as a broker. “The owner, John Davis, and I played basketball together at ORU,” Davis said.
He is married to Kathy D. Brock Davis. He has two sons: Jeffery Scott Davis and Brock Xaviar Davis.
“I owe all my athletic talents to my mother, Ida Jessie Tucker Davis, and my dad, Wadie Davis Sr.; my uncles Buck Davis and Dan Tucker; my aunts, Grace Tucker, Evelyn Davis, Bert Martin and Cecil Mereith; and brothers, Wadie Jr., Paul, Rod and Ben; my sisters Willa and Joan; and my grandparents and other friends, relatives and relatives,” he said.
John David Beckler
Beckler is being inducted into the Old Timers’ Hall of Fame for football.
He was a member of the first graduating class of Cleveland High School in 1967.
He lettered in football as a freshman at Polk County High School. He lettered three years in football, basketball and track at Cleveland High School.
While at Cleveland High, he was named most valuable lineman as a sophomore; most valuable back as a junior; and most valuable player as a senior. He led the team in tackles for three years and had the most yards gained for two years.
Beckler was co-captain of his football team for three years; All-State for two years ; and All Tri-State for two years. He was listed for Coca Cola All-American Team and was most valuable player in the first TSSAA All-Star Game.
At the University of Tennessee, he played football from 1967 to 971.
Beckler graduated in 1972 from UTK with a bachelor of science in business administration.
He retired in October 2010 with 34 years of service from the Tennessee Valley Authority as vice president of labor relations.
He currently serves on several boards of trustees, including Helmet to Hardhats; t he Center for Construction Research and Training; Southeast Laborers Health and Welfare; and Iron Workers’ District council Pension, Annuity and Health and Welfare Funds.
Beckler is married to Carol Rose, who was Cleveland High’s first homecoming queen. They have one daughter, Amee Beckler Olham, who with her husband Bill have a daughter Natalee Rose.; and one son, Jonah David, who with his wife Jen have one daughter, Marrett Lacee. Beckler has a brother Ray Beckler and his wife, Shirley.
Individuals wishing to attend the Old Timers’ Banquet must have a ticket, unless they are being inducted. Tickets are available at the city of Cleveland Parks and Recreation Office, 160 Second St.. Tickets are $20 and must be purchased by Tuesday.
For more information, call 479-429.
