During a ceremony held on Thursday afternoon, Union City Commissioners and members of the Board of Education honored the late-Otis Davis, a 1960, two-time, track and field gold medalist at the Rome Summer Olympics by naming 26th Street between Kennedy Boulevard and Summit Avenue as “Otis Davis Way.” The location is right near Union City High School, where Davis spent years working and mentoring students.
Davis’ daughter Liza and grandson Sean were in attendance for the ceremony. Davis passed away last Saturday at the age of 92. He won gold medals for the United States in the 400 meter and 4 x 400 meter relay, setting a world record breaking time of 44.9 seconds in the 400 meter race, becoming the first man to break the 45 second barrier.
Davis served fours in the United States Air Force during the Korean War before attending the University of Oregon on a basketball scholarship.
Davis was a torch bearer for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Davis was hired by the Union City Board of Education in the early 2000s, working at then-Emerson High School as truancy officer, teacher, coach and mentor to students. He eventually began working as a verification officer at Union City High School, helping students with disabilities.
Davis worked as a high school teacher for many years in Springfield, Oregon, before settling in New Jersey.