Lorraine Dunn Davis, a two-time Olympic sprinter and accountant, died on Oct. 16 from a heart attack. She was 61.
Born in Panama, Davis was naturally drawn to sports, particularly softball, volleyball and track. She didn't seriously focus on running until a friend told her she could travel the world if she became a member of Panama's national women's track team.
Davis trained hard and qualified for the team when she was only 15 years old. She won a silver medal at the 1959 Pan American Games in Chicago as a member of the 4x100 meters relay team. The following year, she represented Panama in the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome.
In 1961, Davis received a track scholarship at Tennessee State University, a school known for its excellent track and field program. During her junior year, she competed in the 1963 Pan American Games in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and won a bronze medal in the 200 meters with a time of 24.7 seconds. She also represented Panama in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.
After graduation, Davis gave up competitive running and became an accountant for the Caterpillar Tractor Co. and the Pabst Brewing Co. She spent the last two decades working for the National Bar Association in Washington D.C.
Posted on November 8, 2003 11:08 PM