Mel DAVIS

1937 - 2021

MEL "TRICK" DAVIS July 30, 1937 - December 16, 2021 On December 16, 2021, Mel "Trick" Davis passed away of natural causes in Vancouver, at the age of 84 years old. During his final days, family, friends, and his former players visited with him and sent video tributes. Mel played with the Harlem Globetrotters from 1961 until 1979. During his professional career he traveled too over 100 countries. Mel's community focus led him to create youth development programs including his Mel Davis Youth Foundation, and his Have Ball Will Teach program, an after-school basketball and academic instruction initiative for young players. Mel moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1987 where he traveled around Vancouver establishing his youth development clinics. Mel coached and mentored thousands of young Canadians during his 30 years of community service. Mel was born to his 14 year old mother, Pearl Marzette Davis, on July 30, 1937. He grew up without a father in what he described as the "slums" of Chicago. The trials, tribulations, and triumphs of his life were captured in the Academy Award nominated documentary, Hardwood, directed by his youngest son and filmmaker, Hubert Davis (mother, Megan Carvell-Davis). His oldest son, Mawuli Mel Davis (mother, Mary Etta Davis), is a civil rights attorney and organizer in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to his two sons, Mel is survived by his wife of 33 years, Megan; his stepdaughter, Melana and her son, Zachary; his grandsons, Kobie, Khari, Kaden, Jackson; his beloved daughters-in-law, Jana (Mawuli) and Kelly (Hubert); and a host of family. A celebration of life will be held in 2022. In his own words, he leaves a legacy of not only "teaching basketball to kids" but "a way of teaching them about life."