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Henry Davenport Memorial 1-6-05 1/6/2005 by David Paschall, used by permission Henry Davenport, whose shouts of “Where’s the defense?” and “Who’s got the middle?” echoed for years inside McKenzie Arena, died Tuesday, apparently from a seizure. He was 40. Davenport was arguably Chattanooga’s most recognizable basketball fan of the past quarter century, starting out as a manager for Howard High and then Chattanooga State. He became a fixture at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga games before developing a unique relationship with former Vanderbilt and current Ohio State women’s coach Jim Foster. Foster, who grew up with two mentally challenged siblings, opened his heart and home to Davenport and named him everything from special assistant to roving ambassador on his staffs. “I don’t know if I’ve known anyone else in my lifetime who best created tears and emotion one day, followed the next day by a perpetual smile,” Foster said Wednesday. “He changed the way we talked at Vanderbilt. He would say something like, ‘I don’t know. You tell me,’ and then we would all start saying that.” Foster said his favorite “Henryism” was when the two were riding in a car and heard a commercial comparing Coke and Pepsi. After the commercial, Foster asked Davenport which cola he preferred. “He paused for a second and said, ‘I don’t know, Jim, I’ve never thought about that,'” Foster said. “Everybody else in the world would have an answer to that question, but Henry said he hadn’t thought about it.” Davenport’s favorite sporting event became the Southeastern Conference women’s tournament, which was held at UTC in 1993-97 and 1999-2000. One year, at Foster’s tempting, Davenport walked up to Georgia coach Andy Landers and asked what he put in his hair. Mississippi State coach Sharon Fanning said Davenport was loved throughout the league. “Henry Davenport was one of the greatest fans ever of women’s basketball,” Fanning said. “His enthusiasm and sincere love of his teams was always appreciated and admired. When I think of Henry, I think of an honest and loving person who cared for others and showed it.” Davenport attended Vanderbilt and Ohio State games by taking Greyhound bus trips from Chattanooga. Foster always provided the fares. “I have a suitcase at home filled with his clothes,” Foster said. “It was for his next trip up.” Funeral services for Davenport will be announced later. A Henry Davenport Memorial Fund has been established through First Tennessee Bank. Contributions will be accepted at local branches or by mailing to: Jennifer Ford at First Tennessee Bank E-mail David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com |
