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Green Bay Packers’ legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Davis, who went on to establish a successful second career as a businessman and founder of All Pro Broadcasting, died Wednesday, April 15 in a Santa Monica hospital. He was 85. Davis’ wife, Carol, said her husband had been hospitalized for about a month with kidney failure and passed away peacefully.

“The Green Bay Packers Family was saddened today to learn about the passing of Willie Davis,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “One of the great defensive players of his era, Willie was a significant contributor to the Packers’ five NFL championship teams during the 1960s.” A graduate of Grambling University, Davis spent a decade with the Packers, earned five All-Pro selections, five Pro Bowl honors and helped the Packers win the first two Super Bowls. Prior to the Super Bowl era, Davis also won five NFL championships (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967) as part of Vince Lombardi’s legendary Packers squads. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

Davis retired after the 1969 season and went on to open a distillery with his brother before eventually using his MBA from the University of Chicago to serve on the boards of Dow Chemical, MGM Resorts International, Schlitz Brewing, Sara Lee, American Express, Mattel and the Green Bay Packers, among others.

Davis is survived by his wife, Carol, his children Duane (Inge) and Lori, four grandchildren, brothers and sisters and a host of family and friends. Funeral services will be private, but a future, public celebration of his incredible life is planned. The family is requesting privacy at this time.

• All Pro Broadcasting owns Hot AC KHTI (Hot 103.9) and KATY (101.3 The Mix)/Riverside-San Bernardino, CA. In Milwaukee, All Pro, in partnership with Times-Shamrock Communications, owns AC WLDB (B93.3), Alternative WLUM and Oldies WZTI-AM under the banner of the Milwaukee Radio Alliance

Editors’ Note: Willie was my boss in 1994 when I was Program Director at KACE-Los Angeles. Willie was good man and will be missed. Rest in Peace Mr. Davis