Ron Davenport, Sr.

Inducted 2003

From walking the picket lines in the '60's--to demanding the inclusion of Black construction workers in the building of the USX Building--to purchasing and expanding his Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation radio station portfolio--to building a radio network reaching African Americans worldwide--Ron Davenport has demonstrated that, with courage and vision, African Americans can make a major impact on their community and open new opportunities to minorities.

Ron is a graduate of Temple University, Yale Law School and formerly Dean and professor of Duquesne University School of Law.  He is active in the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; is a board member of the Dwelling House Building and Loan Association, Allegheny General Hospital, United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Health Research Services Foundation and the Urban League of Pittsburgh.

He was consultant to two bodies of the Pennsylvania Constitutional Convention, a member of the Pennsylvania Crime Commission, Chairman of the Heinz Senate Campaign, Chairman of the Law Transition Committee for
Gov. Dick Thornburgh and Chairman of the Federal Judicial Nominating Committee for the State of Pennsylvania.

Ron served as a member of the White House Conference with President Reagan on Foreign and Domestic Policy Issues.  He is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Broadcasters.

Ron currently owns five radio stations and his parent company, Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation is the majority owner of American Urban Radio Networks.

Ron has been given numerous national, state and local awards for his charitable and educational works. Commitment, perseverance and dedication all describe Ron Davenport.