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.

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. Davenport has an older brother David Andrus Davenport (born 1939) He was captain of the basketball team his senior year. 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. The following year, he was again selected to play on the National team at the 1969 World Cup. 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. He officiated at the USA Cup, the World Junior Championships, the World Championships, the World Cup and the Olympics. 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. The couple married in Los Angeles on April 19, 1970.

References

  • Retired and Emeritus National Referees, USA Volleyball