Tom Daviau joins an elite group of teammates in the Westfield State Athletics hall of fame, as one of the cornerstones of the Owls’ strong men’s basketball teams of the early 1970s.

 

Daviau graduated as the best free throw shooter in school history with a career percentage of .757, and today, 44 years later, still sits ninth on the Owls all-time list.

 

In his career, he totaled 746 points at the varsity level. In an era where freshmen rarely competed at the varsity level, Daviau split time between the Owls varsity and JV, leading the JV with a 16.2 points per-game scoring average, and shot 59 percent from the floor before being called up. 

 

Universally lauded by his teammates for his skill, toughness and hustle, and his sense of humor, he was noted for bringing a diverse Owls squad together. As a junior and senior, Daviau helped lead the Owls to 17 wins in each season, and the program’s first ever ECAC Tournament Bid in his senior season of 1974.

 

Daviau played under coaches Leo Leblanc and Matt Zunic (a former NBA player). Daviau played on some of the strongest teams in Owl history, alongside five other Westfield State Hall of Famers in his basketball career.  Daviau averaged over 12 points per game as a junior, and 10.4 points per game as he captained the Owls as a senior.   He shot better than 50 percent from the floor in his career.

 

Daviau played in the New England College vs. University all-star game after his senior season.

 

A graduate of Shrewsbury High School where he was standout basketball player, he was a two-time Midland League All Star, and named to the Central New England All Star Team as a senior.

He coached junior high basketball for several years, and served as the vice-president of the Mount Olive, N.J., recreation basketball program which served over 600 schoolchildren in grades 1-8, and implemented a summer basketball program for 250 youngsters annually.

 

Daviau is also a 3rd Degree Knight as a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus, and battling Parkinson’s Disease himself, is actively involved in charitable activities in supporting research and physical activity for Parkinson’s victims.

 

Daviau recently retired as vice-president of Global Solutions, Inc., and resides in Flanders, N.J. with his wife Pam. The couple has two children, son Kevin and daughter Courtney.