Ronald R. Davenport (Finding Aid)

Ronald R. Davenport

1936 -

Favorite Food: All Food

Favorite Time of Year: All Four Seasons

Interview Length: 141 minutes

Interview Date(s): August 12, 2003

Interview Location(s): Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Abstract

Ronald Davenport tells about his mother and father and gives background information on their backgrounds. He then talks about being raised by his grandmother in north Philadelphia and describes his childhood personality and his neighborhood. He gives the names of his elementary and junior high schools. Davenport talks about avoiding the negative influences in his neighborhood as a young boy and mentions his involvement in religion as well as his love for music. Next, he explains how he survived his rough neighborhood. Davenport recounts his grandparents' influence and leadership in his community and then details his experiences living with his mother and stepfather. He talks about activities in which he was involved during high school as well as his personality at that time. Ronald Davenport discusses briefly his plans to go to college. Ronald Davenport explains how he decided to attend Pennsylvania State University. He speaks in depth about adjusting to the college atmosphere, specifically a campus with a small black population. Davenport details his participation in student government at Penn State and also talks about teaching an economics labs course at the university. He then gives an overview of his experience at Penn State. Next, he talks about his decision to go to law school and how he decided on Temple University. Davenport remembers experiences from law school before mentioning how his logical mind suited studying and practicing law. Finally, Ron Davenport talks about his first jobs while in law school. Ron Davenport describes his experience as a law clerk in the 1960s. Then he talks about his career aspirations and how he was a campus leader at Penn State. Next, he speaks about his courtship and marriage. Ron Davenport discusses his mentor and his acceptance to Yale Law School and then details his coursework there. He goes into details about experiences while working at Norris, Green, Harris and Higginbotham law firm before remembering one of the law firm's major clients. Next, he tells how Austin Norris was influential to him. He briefly talks about the civil rights scene in Philadelphia. Davenport then explains how he became a professor at Duquesne University School of Law and recalls his experience there. Then, Ron Davenport describes his civic involvement in Pittsburgh. Ronald Davenport briefly discusses Pittsburgh's accepting community feel. He then describes his civic activities in Pittsburgh while teaching at Duquesne University. Next, he talks about his work for the Mayor's office in Pittsburgh. Ron Davenport describes his leadership roles with the Urban League and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and tells about people with whom he worked. He then recalls other aspects of his civil rights activities before talking about becoming Dean of Duquesne University's law school. Davenport then explains his career transition from law to radio broadcasting. He details the origins of his broadcasting company. Ron Davenport talks about some of the details behind the funding for the station. Davenport explains how he picked the name for his broadcasting company and then describes how it has expanded over the years. He briefly discusses the history of black radio and explains his feelings on being a black business owner. Ron Davenport details the development of the Sheridan Broadcasting Network and talks about his experiences in building his business. Then he gets more in depth about his company's business strategy and talks about its affiliates. Davenport explains why his broadcasting network has been successful and about some of the programming. Next, he discusses his hopes for the future of Sheridan Broadcasting and talks about his successes and mistakes in the radio business. Then, he mentions his children's participation in the broadcasting business. He considers decision-making opportunities for African Americans and then considers the future successes of the black community. Ron Davenport considers his legacy and how he'd like to be remembered.

59 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)