If you have ever spent time with Rick Buice, you know that he’s a great story teller. And why shouldn’t he be? After a 44-and-a-half-year career at Darlington, he certainly has his fair share of stories to tell.
Chief Financial Officer Bob Rogers will retire June 30 after 37 years of service to Darlington School, announced Headmaster Tom Whitworth at an all-school faculty meeting last week.
Darlington School announces that the athletic field next to the new Middle School, Thatcher Hall, has been named Charlie Davidson Field in honor of the retired athletic director. The funding for this named gift was given by a group of Davidson’s former players and students as part of Darlington’s Second Century Campaign.
Davidson, more commonly known as “Coach Charlie” among Darlington alumni, served as the school’s athletic director and head football coach from 1971 to 1984. Prior to his career at Darlington, he coached football and golf at Washington-Wilkes High School in Washington, Ga., and has been inducted into both schools’ Halls of Fame. He has also been honored by the Georgia State Senate for outstanding work with the young people of Georgia, and was inducted into the Georgia High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2005.
When he retired in 1984, Davidson was the sixth winningest coach in football in Georgia, and for two years after retirement, he served as athletic director emeritus at Darlington.
“Charlie Davidson was a master at motivating players to give their best on every play. He was well-respected by players and coaches alike,” said Chief Financial Officer Bob Rogers, who coached with Davidson. “I think his philosophy was summed up in the prayer that the team captain read before each game. Charlie would get out an old, folded, yellowed piece of paper from his wallet and give it to the captain. On it was written: ‘Dear God, In the battle that goes on through life, we ask for a field that is fair, an equal chance, and the courage to do and to dare. If we should win, let us win by the code with our faith and courage held high. If we should lose, let us stand by the road and cheer as the winner goes marching by. Amen.’ Charlie would then say, ‘That’s how we play the game. We play fair, we play hard, and we win.’”
Davidson’s record was 244 wins. His football teams won 12 sub-region championships, nine region championships and four state championships. At Washington-Wilkes, Davidson also led his golf teams to 12 region championships and two state championships.
Davidson and his wife, Vickie, live in Rome. They are the parents of three Darlington alumni: Gregg (’72), Michael (’76) and Jody (’78).
If you have ever spent time with Rick Buice, you know that he’s a great story teller. And why shouldn’t he be? After a 44-and-a-half-year career at Darlington, he certainly has his fair share of stories to tell.
Chief Financial Officer Bob Rogers will retire June 30 after 37 years of service to Darlington School, announced Headmaster Tom Whitworth at an all-school faculty meeting last week.
Darlington School announces that the athletic field next to the new Middle School, Thatcher Hall, has been named Charlie Davidson Field in honor of the retired athletic director. The funding for this named gift was given by a group of Davidson’s former players and students as part of Darlington’s Second Century Campaign.
Davidson, more commonly known as “Coach Charlie” among Darlington alumni, served as the school’s athletic director and head football coach from 1971 to 1984. Prior to his career at Darlington, he coached football and golf at Washington-Wilkes High School in Washington, Ga., and has been inducted into both schools’ Halls of Fame. He has also been honored by the Georgia State Senate for outstanding work with the young people of Georgia, and was inducted into the Georgia High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 2005.
When he retired in 1984, Davidson was the sixth winningest coach in football in Georgia, and for two years after retirement, he served as athletic director emeritus at Darlington.
“Charlie Davidson was a master at motivating players to give their best on every play. He was well-respected by players and coaches alike,” said Chief Financial Officer Bob Rogers, who coached with Davidson. “I think his philosophy was summed up in the prayer that the team captain read before each game. Charlie would get out an old, folded, yellowed piece of paper from his wallet and give it to the captain. On it was written: ‘Dear God, In the battle that goes on through life, we ask for a field that is fair, an equal chance, and the courage to do and to dare. If we should win, let us win by the code with our faith and courage held high. If we should lose, let us stand by the road and cheer as the winner goes marching by. Amen.’ Charlie would then say, ‘That’s how we play the game. We play fair, we play hard, and we win.’”
Davidson’s record was 244 wins. His football teams won 12 sub-region championships, nine region championships and four state championships. At Washington-Wilkes, Davidson also led his golf teams to 12 region championships and two state championships.
Davidson and his wife, Vickie, live in Rome. They are the parents of three Darlington alumni: Gregg (’72), Michael (’76) and Jody (’78).
