Tom Flores stays in the Raiders’ ‘family’ with his choice of Hall of Fame presenter

Al Davis’ wife, Carol Davis, will do the honors

On Thursday during a national media conference call to prepare for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, legendary coach Tom Flores called the Raiders a “family.”

Later in an exclusive interview with Silver and Black Pride, Flores showed that type of talk just isn’t empty rhetoric when it comes to the organization. Flores told Silver and Black Pride that he will be presented into the Canton, Ohio, museum on Aug. 8 by Carol Davis, the widow of legendary Raiders’ owner Al Davis and the mother of current team owner Mark Davis.

“How ‘bout that,” a giddy Flores said. “We’re keeping it in the Raiders family and I couldn’t think of a better person to send me in to the Hall of Fame than Carol Davis. She is thrilled, I’m thrilled and Mark is thrilled.”

All incoming Hall of Famers select someone to present them into the exclusive club. That person is usually someone who had a major impact on the inductee’s life and career. Flores said Carol Davis, the matriarch of the organization, was an easy choice.

“She’s perfect,” Flores said. “If Al was alive, he’d be my presenter, but having Carol do it is great.”

This will be the first person Carol Davis presents into the Hall of Fame. Flores said he asked Mark Davis about it first and he said the Raiders’ owner was “overwhelmed” with emotion by Flores’ selection of his mother.

The presentations are now videotaped and are conducted not in-person, but will be played at the ceremony just before Flores’ induction.