• News
    • Administrative News
    • The Ones
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Crime Log
    • In Des Moines
    • Student Senate
    • Senate Elections
  • Features
    • Greek Life
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
  • Commentary
    • Horoscope
    • Letter from the Editor
  • Podcasts
  • Relays Edition
    • Commentary
    • Coronavirus
    • Elections
    • Features
    • In Des Moines
    • News
    • This week in photos
    • Top News
    • Top Stories
    • Video
    • Sports
    • Security Reports
    • Relays Edition
    • Poll
    • Podcasts
    • Online Exclusives
Monday, January 30, 2023
No Result
View All Result
The Times-Delphic
  • News
    • All
    • Administrative News
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Caucus Roundup
    • Crime Log
    • In Des Moines
    • Politics
    • Student Politics
    • Student Senate
    • The Ones
    • Top News
    Des Moines Police identify victim in Saturday night Dogtown shooting

    Des Moines Police identify victim in Saturday night Dogtown shooting

    One dead, one injured in Dogtown shooting Saturday night

    One dead, one injured in Dogtown shooting Saturday night

    Former U.S. diplomat draws attention to the Tigray War in Ethiopia during lecture

    Former U.S. diplomat draws attention to the Tigray War in Ethiopia during lecture

    Iranians pushed over the edge after years of repression and corruption

    Iranians pushed over the edge after years of repression and corruption

    Drake proposes wellness fee costs, plans to expand mental health services

    Drake proposes wellness fee costs, plans to expand mental health services

    • Administrative News
    • The Ones
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Crime Log
    • In Des Moines
    • Student Senate
    • Senate Elections
  • Features
    • All
    • Clubs
    • Greek Life
    • People
    Letter Signed by Charles Dickens Discovered in Drake Archives 

    Letter Signed by Charles Dickens Discovered in Drake Archives 

    Students share how they spent their Thanksgiving Break

    Students share how they spent their Thanksgiving Break

    Sigma Phi Epsilon plans annual “Miracle on 34th Street” event

    Sigma Phi Epsilon plans annual “Miracle on 34th Street” event

    A boring Black Friday: How Black Friday has changed over the years

    A boring Black Friday: How Black Friday has changed over the years

    Drake Theatre People presents “Rabbit Hole”

    Drake Theatre People presents “Rabbit Hole”

    • Greek Life
  • Sports
    • All
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Tennis
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    NFL MVP race heating up with top picks separating from the herd

    Quarterback Zach Wilson benched by New York Jets after week 10

    World Cup kicks off with U.S. promising fans exciting future

    World Cup kicks off with U.S. promising fans exciting future

    NFL MVP race heating up with top picks separating from the herd

    NFL MVP race heating up with top picks separating from the herd

    John Dee Bright honored at documentary and panel event

    John Dee Bright honored at documentary and panel event

    Breaunna Addison named head coach of Drake women’s tennis team

    Breaunna Addison named head coach of Drake women’s tennis team

    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
  • Commentary
    • All
    • Black Voices Column
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscope
    • Humans of Drake
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Opinion
    The stars must have aligned: “Silent Sky” was quite fine

    The stars must have aligned: “Silent Sky” was quite fine

    “Ticket to Paradise” is your ticket to watching gorgeous people

    “Ticket to Paradise” is your ticket to watching gorgeous people

    2020 redux: can’t come to the classroom? Still need Zoom

    2020 redux: can’t come to the classroom? Still need Zoom

    Snapchat, strangers and smut: keep the kids’ eyes shut

    Snapchat, strangers and smut: keep the kids’ eyes shut

    Blues, booze and nothing to do: how to bloom during holiday gloom

    Blues, booze and nothing to do: how to bloom during holiday gloom

    • Horoscope
    • Letter from the Editor
  • Podcasts
    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Humans of Drake Podcast

    Bulldog Blitz 1: December 7, 2010

    The Sports Report 2010 7: 11/09/2010

  • Relays Edition

    Bill that would make Iowa a hands-free driving state stalls in the legislature

    New Casey’s Location on Forest Avenue

    ADA student task force advocates for disability inclusion

    Des Moines lands news USL team and stadium district

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    State of Sustainability at Drake

    Hip astrology: Relays horoscope

    Dean Kathleen Richardson: Leaving a Legacy for the Drake SJMC

    Painted Street ain’t so sweet when costs are heaped

    • Commentary
    • Coronavirus
    • Elections
    • Features
    • In Des Moines
    • News
    • This week in photos
    • Top News
    • Top Stories
    • Video
    • Sports
    • Security Reports
    • Relays Edition
    • Poll
    • Podcasts
    • Online Exclusives
  • News
    • All
    • Administrative News
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Caucus Roundup
    • Crime Log
    • In Des Moines
    • Politics
    • Student Politics
    • Student Senate
    • The Ones
    • Top News
    Des Moines Police identify victim in Saturday night Dogtown shooting

    Des Moines Police identify victim in Saturday night Dogtown shooting

    One dead, one injured in Dogtown shooting Saturday night

    One dead, one injured in Dogtown shooting Saturday night

    Former U.S. diplomat draws attention to the Tigray War in Ethiopia during lecture

    Former U.S. diplomat draws attention to the Tigray War in Ethiopia during lecture

    Iranians pushed over the edge after years of repression and corruption

    Iranians pushed over the edge after years of repression and corruption

    Drake proposes wellness fee costs, plans to expand mental health services

    Drake proposes wellness fee costs, plans to expand mental health services

    • Administrative News
    • The Ones
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Crime Log
    • In Des Moines
    • Student Senate
    • Senate Elections
  • Features
    • All
    • Clubs
    • Greek Life
    • People
    Letter Signed by Charles Dickens Discovered in Drake Archives 

    Letter Signed by Charles Dickens Discovered in Drake Archives 

    Students share how they spent their Thanksgiving Break

    Students share how they spent their Thanksgiving Break

    Sigma Phi Epsilon plans annual “Miracle on 34th Street” event

    Sigma Phi Epsilon plans annual “Miracle on 34th Street” event

    A boring Black Friday: How Black Friday has changed over the years

    A boring Black Friday: How Black Friday has changed over the years

    Drake Theatre People presents “Rabbit Hole”

    Drake Theatre People presents “Rabbit Hole”

    • Greek Life
  • Sports
    • All
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Tennis
    • Track and Field
    • Volleyball
    NFL MVP race heating up with top picks separating from the herd

    Quarterback Zach Wilson benched by New York Jets after week 10

    World Cup kicks off with U.S. promising fans exciting future

    World Cup kicks off with U.S. promising fans exciting future

    NFL MVP race heating up with top picks separating from the herd

    NFL MVP race heating up with top picks separating from the herd

    John Dee Bright honored at documentary and panel event

    John Dee Bright honored at documentary and panel event

    Breaunna Addison named head coach of Drake women’s tennis team

    Breaunna Addison named head coach of Drake women’s tennis team

    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
  • Commentary
    • All
    • Black Voices Column
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscope
    • Humans of Drake
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Opinion
    The stars must have aligned: “Silent Sky” was quite fine

    The stars must have aligned: “Silent Sky” was quite fine

    “Ticket to Paradise” is your ticket to watching gorgeous people

    “Ticket to Paradise” is your ticket to watching gorgeous people

    2020 redux: can’t come to the classroom? Still need Zoom

    2020 redux: can’t come to the classroom? Still need Zoom

    Snapchat, strangers and smut: keep the kids’ eyes shut

    Snapchat, strangers and smut: keep the kids’ eyes shut

    Blues, booze and nothing to do: how to bloom during holiday gloom

    Blues, booze and nothing to do: how to bloom during holiday gloom

    • Horoscope
    • Letter from the Editor
  • Podcasts
    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Humans of Drake Podcast

    Bulldog Blitz 1: December 7, 2010

    The Sports Report 2010 7: 11/09/2010

  • Relays Edition

    Bill that would make Iowa a hands-free driving state stalls in the legislature

    New Casey’s Location on Forest Avenue

    ADA student task force advocates for disability inclusion

    Des Moines lands news USL team and stadium district

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    State of Sustainability at Drake

    Hip astrology: Relays horoscope

    Dean Kathleen Richardson: Leaving a Legacy for the Drake SJMC

    Painted Street ain’t so sweet when costs are heaped

    • Commentary
    • Coronavirus
    • Elections
    • Features
    • In Des Moines
    • News
    • This week in photos
    • Top News
    • Top Stories
    • Video
    • Sports
    • Security Reports
    • Relays Edition
    • Poll
    • Podcasts
    • Online Exclusives
No Result
View All Result
The Times-Delphic
No Result
View All Result
Home Features

Davidson family passes Relays tradition down through generations

byGrace Altenhofen
April 21, 2021
in Features, Relays Edition, Top Stories
0
Davidson family passes Relays tradition down through generations

Photo courtesy of Ritchie Funeral Home

For Dick Davidson Jr., heading to the Drake Relays was a family ritual. “I’ve been going to the Drake Relays since I was three years old,” Davidson said. But he wouldn’t just sit in the stands and watch. His dad, Richard “Dick” Davidson Sr. was an official. For nearly 50 years, he spent the last weekend of every April volunteering as an umpire at the Relays, starting after his graduation from Drake Law School. Eventually, Davidson Jr. started officiating, taking up the mantle of a family tradition spanning three generations.

“Some of us have track in our veins and love being on the track,” Davidson Jr. said. “I’m an umpire and dad was an umpire and my grandfather was an umpire.”

Davidson Sr. was added to the Relays Wall of Honor in 2000 before retiring in the mid-2000s. 

“For dad and I, it was just a ritual every last weekend in April. We just knew where we were,” Davidson Jr. said. “When we would leave Drake on a Sunday, we always made reservations for the next year.”

Davidson Sr. passed away Feb. 11, but the memories created during his time officiating Relays will live on with Davidson Jr.

“It was really [special]. I think we probably officiated at least 10 years together,” Davidson Jr. said. “It’s really just a love of track and field.”

Carolyn Hill, Drake Relays Special Director, said that three generations of Relays officials like the Davidson family is uncommon.

“We have a handful of two generations,” Hill said. “My kids grew up at Relays. My daughter actually ran in high school here at the Drake Relays and she’s also an official now. We’ve officiated national meets together. It’s a real fun time to spend time together and do something we both love.”

According to Hill, many families turn Relays into a decades-long tradition.

“There are a lot of people who had parents or grandparents who went and they’ve gotten involved, they come every year,” Hill said. “It’s a tradition in their families to come to the Drake Relays. That’s one of the neat things about it, the connectivity that people have in coming back to Drake for that event.”

Jim Walczyk, Drake Relays Officials Coordinator, said that family ties are one of the ways that people gain interest in volunteering as an official.

“There are quite a few who get involved because their dad or their uncle or their brother or their mom had been involved,” Walczyk said. “My son is getting involved in officiating. It’s just something that they find that they can do with their parent or sibling. It’s a good way to spend some time with them.”

Like Davidson Jr., Walczyk’s involvement with Relays began at a young age. 

“I ran at the Drake Relays while I was in high school, so it goes back to childhood,” Walczyk said. “It was always a fun trip down to Des Moines and it just created a little bit better bonding with my Relays teammates. It’s always just been a strong memory for me.”

After moving to Des Moines as an adult, the Relays became a family tradition for Walczyk.

“After I was out of school, my dad and my brothers and I always came to Drake Relays and just had fun,” Walczyk said. “And then I just started officiating at Drake.”

Outside of officiating, Relays held an even more special meaning for the Davidson family. 

“[Davidson Sr.] met my mother at Drake, and just so many close friends,” Davidson Jr. said. “Every year at Relays, mom and dad would get together with eight, maybe 10 different couples who were all Drake friends. Most of them were dad’s fraternity brothers and their wives who were Drake coeds. It was remarkable, this core group of friends that continued to meet every Drake Relays. It was their homecoming kind of thing.”

Tags: featuresin memoriamRelaysRelays Edition

Grace Altenhofen

Next Post
Local businesses reflect on financial impact of 2020 Relays cancellation

Local businesses reflect on financial impact of 2020 Relays cancellation

Twitter Feeds

The Times-Delphic The Times-Delphic ·
@timesdelphic
Two people were injured in a shooting near the Drake neighborhood Saturday evening, according to the Des Moines Police Department.
View on Twitter
1
8
The Times-Delphic The Times-Delphic ·
@timesdelphic
Drake Public Safety was informed around 5 p.m. Sunday by a third person account that someone saw "an individual by Mars Cafe carrying a rifle," according to DPS Assistant Director Tricia McKinney.
View on Twitter
2
4
  • About
  • Home
  • Podcasts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Virtual Edition
  • Advertising

Copyright 2015 Fuel Themes. All RIGHTS RESERVED. Sitemap

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Administrative News
    • The Ones
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Crime Log
    • In Des Moines
    • Student Senate
    • Senate Elections
  • Features
    • Greek Life
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Column
    • Cross-Country
    • E-Sports
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Rowing
    • Soccer
    • Softball
  • Commentary
    • Horoscope
    • Letter from the Editor
  • Podcasts
  • Relays Edition
    • Commentary
    • Coronavirus
    • Elections
    • Features
    • In Des Moines
    • News
    • This week in photos
    • Top News
    • Top Stories
    • Video
    • Sports
    • Security Reports
    • Relays Edition
    • Poll
    • Podcasts
    • Online Exclusives

Copyright 2015 Fuel Themes. All RIGHTS RESERVED. Sitemap

Bodybuilder is fighting for his life after taking dirty steroids femara uk trump's "operation warp speed" for mass vaxxing. "big bucks for big pharma" - global research