Distinguished Alumni 2004

Maxine "Mickey" Davis

Mickey Davis graduated from Winthrop College in 1964, where she was known as an outstanding basketball player. This Ware Shoals native starred on her high school team and while at Winthrop she held the state scoring record for basketball. After her graduation she moved to Atlanta, Ga. for a high school teaching position at Southwest High School. She joined the Southwest faculty in the first year of integration for the Atlanta public schools. Her immediate task was to lead the first black student through his first semester at Southwest. She served as the liaison between this young man and his fellow students during this challenging transition. After Atlanta she moved to Orlando, Fla. and Boone High School as teacher/coach. In 1969 she moved to Cerritos High School in sunny California. While in California she completed her masters of science degree at Whittier College.

In 1979 Mickey began her college teaching and coaching career at the Golden West Community College. While at Golden West, she won four state softball championships and 35 of her student-athletes moved on to Division I programs on full athletic scholarships. In 1984 she joined the Los Angeles Olympic Committee as Youth Services Program Director and was inducted into the ASA National Softball Hall of Fame. She continued to work in the United States Olympic movement including serving as local sports coordinator for 1991 Olympic Festival were she recruited and trained over 200 volunteers. In 1994 she was the site director for 1994 level I and level II Olympic Trials and USA Softball Peak Camp, where trials were held to select the first U.S. Women's Olympic Softball Team. She continued to work with the Olympic team and threw out the first pitch at the 1996 Olympic Softball game, USA vs. Japan. She has served as a softball clinician throughout the world, been recognized for her leadership in women's athletics, and was named Women's Athletic Director the Year in 1996 by the California Community College Association.

Ms. Davis is Dean and Athletic Director at Long Beach City College. She continues to advocate for women in athletics through her speaking engagements and service to numerous professional organizations.