********************************************
Additional Text for the 03/31/06 Alumni Sandstorm 
********************************************
>>From: Pullman High School Boosters

Re: Rex Davis ('49)

Rex Davis is a graduate of both Richland High School and WSU.
 He coached tennis at both.


STORY BELOW FROM MOSCOW PULLMAN DAILY NEWS
............

Pullman's Davis getting a fresh start — at age 74; Retired WSU
tennis coach takes over Greyhound boys' program, says kids face
same issues today as 50 years ago

By E. Kirsten Peters Moscow Pullman Daily News staff writer
3/30/06


Even when he was drafted by the U.S. Army and sent to Korea, Rex
Davis looked for the opportunity to become a better athlete and
physical education teacher. That kind of positive attitude is
still with the 74-year old, who coached tennis for Washington
State University for 28 years and has just taken up the challenge
of coaching the boys' tennis team at Pullman High School.

"We could not ask for anyone better to help our kids and the
team," said Pullman athletic director Mike Davis, who is no
relation to Rex. "The job here is Rex's, as long as he wants it."

It was 50 years ago this spring that Rex Davis first officially
coached a tennis team, namely the boys' high school team in
Richland, WA. Later, he coached at the university level and
taught physical education classes at WSU. He coached the men's
tennis team from 1966 to 1994 and also the women's team from 1983
to 1990.

"And in all that time, all but one of my players graduated," 
he said. "And even that one guy later finished up elsewhere. I
always thought the kids' education should come first. Some of my
players studied engineering and did well, and I supported that."

He and his wife, Alice, are both devoted tennis players and have
a court at their home in rural Pullman.

"It's a great game because you can do it as you get older," she
said. "Rex has really got a lot of young people started in tennis
in a way that lasts them for their whole lives."

Unlike many young people today who start tennis lessons as
children, Rex Davis learned the game after he graduated from
college. Drafted by the Army and sent to Korea, he learned to
play from a professional who was stationed at the same base.

"There were two clay tennis courts that had been built for Gen.
Maxwell Taylor," he said. "So that's where I got my start."

After a few months in Korea, Rex Davis was stationed in Japan,
where he started teaching others to play tennis. Returning home
to Washington state, he began as a gymnastics coach, first in 
the public schools and then at WSU. But he always volunteered to
coach tennis as well, and that eventually became the focus of his
professional career.

The Pullman boys' varsity tennis team has 10 players and three
substitutes from the junior varsity level.

"The issues with kids are the same as they were 50 years ago,"
their new coach said. "We're working on the basics."

There is one standout player, Kiran Poovaiah, on the boys' team,
who plays year-round.

"The others play just during the spring season," Rex Davis said.
"But they are all good kids, and it's fun coaching them."

"And they are so very polite to him," Alice Davis said with a
laugh. "They really are good kids."

Three of the four children whom the couple raised in Pullman
played for the Greyhounds' tennis teams in years gone by.

"Our kids are getting a kick out of Rex coaching at the high
school now," Alice Davis said.

The varsity boys' team carries a 2-2 record into today's Great
Northern League match at Lakeside.

"I'm wishing I had made a videotape of the players that first day
of practice," Rex Davis said, "because I know they'll improve a
lot by the end of the season."

E. Kirsten Peters can be reached at (509) 334-6397 ext. 310, or
by e-mail at ekpeters@dnews.com.
********************************************