Feb. 21, 2009

By Janice Lu, Texas Media Relations

AUSTIN, Texas -- Bradley Davis has never camped out for a segment of ESPN College GameDay. And he's never painted his whole body orange. Yet, he can still be considered one of the most devoted and diehard Orange Bloods ever.

After all, Davis has spent almost 80 years worth of time and money to cheer on the Longhorns.

"I needed something to do and I liked ball games, so the two kind of fit together," Davis joked.

For Davis, it took 100 years before age finally slowed him down. The Longhorns super-fan celebrated his 100th birthday on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Having faithfully followed the Longhorns ever since he was a student in the 1930s, Davis was a fixture at many games -- women's basketball and volleyball, in particular. And he was also known to snap photos of the action and athletes.

"He has to have taken the most photographs of any person including Susan Sigmon (UT staff photographer) because that was his thing," former Women's Basketball head coach Jody Conradt said. "He took pictures and periodically he would give me some for my collections."

Davis was always trying to share his love for the Longhorns with fellow fans. As he got older and became unable to drive, Davis would buy a ticket in exchange for a ride to the games. While at the games, Davis made all kinds of friends - from the fans to the players, head coaches and athletic directors. And even though Davis had a ticket in the stands, he always had a special chair waiting for him on the floor, near the team tunnel.

"Bradley is the most long term fan that we've had. I don't remember going to a basketball game that he wasn't sitting by the tunnel," Conradt said. "He was the best kind of supporter in that he got to know the players personally. You could go all the way back to the first women's basketball teams and they would all remember the wonderful gentleman who always spoke to them."

Said women's athletics director Chris Plonsky: "To say Bradley was a dedicated fan does not do him justice. He epitomizes the persona of early 'Lady Longhorns followers' -- folks who wore head-to-toe burnt orange before it truly became standard operating procedure."

Davis is currently a resident at the Hill Country Care Center, and this year marks the first time he's been unable to attend any events. But his passion for the Burnt Orange still burns deep. 

"Bradley is a sprite of a man," Plonsky said. "But his spirit for UT is enormous."