Charlotte Davis posed with her KSHSAA Hall of Fame plaque during a presentation ceremony at Wyandotte High School. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
Charlotte Davis, a longtime teacher, coach and athletic director with the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools, has been inducted into the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) Hall of Fame.
She was honored with a reception and ceremony on Friday evening at Wyandotte High School.
Former students and colleagues lined up to speak about her years of service, frequently mentioning the combination of compassion and discipline she brought to the students in her charge. Others recalled how she thrived in a male-dominated profession, while making a path for others to follow.
Davis graduated from Wyandotte High School in 1967. She started her career as an elementary physical education teacher in the Kansas City, Kansas, district. She later worked at both Harmon and Washington high schools, before returning to Wyandotte in 1989 as athletic director. She later served as district athletic director.
Davis’s influence extended way beyond the boundaries of District 500. She served on numerous state level boards, including the KSHSAA executive board.
She earned the Athletic Director of the Year award from the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association in 1998, and she served as the organization’s first woman president in 2002. She also earned the NIAAA’s State Award of Merit in 2006.
Bill Todd, former principal at Harmon and Washington high schools, recalled hiring Davis on his staff. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)Victor Williams, a student of Davis’s at Wyandotte and now a basketball coach, remembered her compassion for students. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)Bill Faflick, executive director of KSHSAA, congratulated Charlotte Davis on being inducted to the organization’s Hall of Fame. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)Charlotte Davis clapped and sang along as the Wyandotte High School band played their fight song. Behind her, left to right, Cheryl Gleason, assistant executive director of KSHSAA; Bill Faflick, executive director of KSHSAA; Dr. Charles Foust, KCKPS district superintendent; Tammie Romstad, KCKPS district athletic director; Mary Stewart, Wyandotte High School principal; and Rufus Black, Wyandotte High School athletic director. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)Craig Delich, a retired teacher and coach at Wyandotte, reminisced about their days working together. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)Cindy Lane, former superintendent of Kansas City Kansas Public Schools, posed with Charlotte Davis after the ceremony. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)Tim O’Malley, a former coach at Wyandotte, recalled an incident when he turned on the sprinklers during a track meet. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)Mary Stewart, principal at Wyandotte High School, presented Charlotte Davis a plaque made by Wyandotte students. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)Shirley Murray, athletic director and assistant principal at Rosedale and Harmon high schools, recalled Charlotte Davis as a student and later as a young PE teacher. (Photo copyright 2020 by Brian Turrel)
