Charles "Chick" Davies, who was named after a legendary sports figure and played on two of Western Pennsylvania's most storied athletic teams, died Thursday of congestive heart failure. He was 80 and lived in Munhall.

His uncle, the first Chick Davies, was the famous basketball coach at Duquesne University, winning 314 games in 1925-43 and 1947-48. He also won a controversial state championship at Homestead High School in 1946 with young Chick Davies as one of his substitutes.

Homestead's team reeled off 27 consecutive victories before losing to Allentown in the state final. An investigation would reverse the outcome. The state stripped Allentown of the championship for using ineligible players.

Winning that championship remains a point of pride in Homestead, especially because most members of the team became known for their courage or successes in adulthood.

One of the starters, John D. "Jack" Kelly, became a Marine who gave his life to save members of his platoon in Korea in 1952. President Eisenhower posthumously awarded Pvt. Kelly the Medal of Honor, America's highest decoration for combat valor.

Don Asmonga played professional baseball and basketball, making it to the Baltimore Bullets of the National Basketball Association. Another Homestead standout, John "Red" Manning, became head basketball coach at Duquesne.

Mr. Davies was a loyal backup to these men, practicing hard to prepare them for competition. He also readied himself for military service and college.

After graduating from Homestead High in 1946, Mr. Davies enlisted in the Navy. He served on the USS Toledo, a heavy cruiser that patrolled the waters of Japan.

After completing his two-year hitch in the service, he enrolled at Thiel College with one of his Navy buddies, Pete Bistransin, who was from Butler.

"Chick ended up bringing five or six of his friends from Homestead to Thiel. He really was quite a leader," Mr. Bistransin said.

Mr. Davies was a halfback on Thiel's football team in 1948-51. Mr. Bistransin, a lineman and linebacker, was perhaps the team's most dominant player.

Their best season came in 1950, when Thiel went 7-0 and outpointed its competition by a staggering 206-13. That Thiel team was inducted into the college's athletic hall of fame in 1981.

Mr. Davies received a bachelor's degree in economics in 1952, then returned home. He became a foreman at U.S. Steel Corp.'s Homestead Works, working in the mill just over 30 years.

Even in retirement his athletic skills remained strong. Mr. Davies became a lifeguard in his late 50s, and worked for many years at the pool at Homestead's recreation complex.

He is survived by his wife, Dottie; their four children: William, of Treasure Lake, Clearfield County; Ken, of West Mifflin; and Robert and Dana, both of Munhall; a sister, Dorothy Blasko of Lincoln Place; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today in Homestead Park United Methodist Church.