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Carol Davis, co-owner of the Raiders and Aces, died on Friday at the age of 93, the team announced on Sunday.
A statement from the team said that her son, Mark Davis, had lit the Al Davis Memorial Torch at the Raiders home, Allegiant Stadium, in her honor on Sunday.
A private service will be held in Oakland, California, for Davis, the team said.
“Her strength and resilience, although not seen by the masses, were always on display to those who were fortunate to be in her presence. She was a strong woman who exuded a compassionate and loving side,” the team’s statement said. “Carol provided unbridled support and unparalleled guidance to the Davis family and the Raiders organization for over 60 years. Her direct impact on the Greatness of the Raiders continues to be felt, cherished, and honored, and is woven into the fabric of this historic franchise. If Al was the heart of the Raiders, Carol was the soul.”
Dubbed “The First Lady of Raider Nation,” Davis married Al Davis in 1954 and retained a share of ownership in the NFL franchise after Al died in 2011, with Mark taking over control of the team.
Davis was mainly behind the scenes, however, she was in attendance when the Raiders broke ground on Allegiant Stadium in 2017 and she lit the memorial torch ahead of the Raiders’ first game in Las Vegas in 2020.
She was also in Canton, Ohio, when former Raiders coach Tom Flores was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“She’s an amazing lady, with stamina and grace,” Al Davis told the Mercury News in 2009. “She’s very intelligent and she’s matter of fact – she knows where she’s going and what she wants. She’s that kind of lady.”
Plans for a public memorial for Davis will be announced at a later time.
