WS Chronicle

Sam Davis, former sports editor for The Chronicle, has passed away at the age of 63. Davis was also a long-time youth sports coach, impacting the lives of many kids around Forsyth County.

Most recently, Davis was the publisher of Triad Sports Weekly, a weekly publication that showcased local youth sports. Davis also worked for the Winston-Salem Journal as a sportswriter.

Davis grew up in the Happy Hill Gardens area of Winston-Salem and had a deep-rooted love for his community. Ben Piggott, another former Happy Hill resident, played high school basketball against Davis and remembers him being a fierce competitor who has always had a passion for sports.

“Sam played basketball for Anderson (High School) in the 10th grade and we played against them at Carver,” said Piggott about his earliest memory of Davis. “Sam was a very caring type of person and when I heard about his death, I was saddened.”

Davis was a multifaceted person who was involved with many things. Not only was he a coach and a sportswriter, he was also a minister and entrepreneur. Though he was involved with many things, his impact on the kids in the community will never be forgotten.

“Sam had a strong impact on the youth because Sam was always concerned with giving the youth an opportunity to be exposed,” Piggott continued. “He wanted them to get their due. Sam was the type of person that would hold banquets for the kids to give them personal recognition.

“He was just a person that was concerned about youth sports to make sure they got the publicity. Sam was just a down-to-earth person.”

Davis was known for not only highlighting the top tier athletes in the city, but he would also recognize the role players for their contributions to the team.

Councilman James Taylor played football in high school and fondly remembers Davis giving him a compliment years later, after becoming a part of city government.  

“I did not make first team all-conference or anything, I was honorable mention, but for him (Davis) to come up to me years later and remember me meant something to a guy like me,” Taylor said. “Sam Davis did a lot for youth sports in this area and his impact will be felt for years.

“He had a way of writing that made the average player sound just as good as the superstar on the team. He had a lot to do with getting a bunch of guys’ attention from schools from the things he wrote. The contributions that he made not only to this paper, but to the community of Winston-Salem, makes him a legend in the city.”