Dennis Davidson has been promoted to sports editor at the Salisbury Post, it was announced Saturday by Elizabeth Cook, editor.

“I extremely honored and humbled by this opportunity,” said Davidson. “The Post’s readers are passionate about their sports, so there is a big responsibility to continue the great work of previous editors, several of which were my mentors, even during my career at Catawba College.”

Davidson moves into the vacancy left by Adam Houston, who has accepted the position of assistant sports editor at the Winston-Salem Journal. 

Having returned to the Post as a copydesk editor last November, Davidson routinely worked on sports pages on Houston’s days off.

“We’re fortunate to get someone with Dennis’ depth of knowledge in this position,” said Cook. “Due to his career in sports information and administration at Catawba, he knows sports. And as a lifelong resident,he knows the community well.”

Davidson said that he looks forward to the challenge but knows he joins an already strong sports department. “I consider myself very fortunate and look forward to working with our outstanding sportswriters Mike London, David Shaw and Marny Hendrick,” added Davidson. “Mike, in particular, has his finger on the pulse of our sports community. He is so good at what he does.”

Davidson also previously worked at the Post in the late 1970s as a student intern in sports for Horace Billings and Ed Dupree, and in the early 1980s as a staff writer and later, copy editor.  He was editor of the business news and the old TV section prior to leaving in 1983.

Davidson had a 29-year career at Catawba College, the first 12 years in sports information and then as an administrator. He served as director of athletics from 1996 until 2013. During those 17 years, Catawba’s teams won 61 championships, Shuford Stadium was rebuilt and renovations were made to the baseball, softball, soccer and swimming venues.

In 2005, Catawba won the South Atlantic Conference’s Excellence Cup, as the best overall athletic program for the year. Davidson was a long-time member of the SAC Athletic Director’s Council, including a two-year term as chairman. He also served on the SAC commissioner’s visitation committee to Brevard, when that college was seeking conference membership.

While at Catawba, Davidson was heavily involved in the school’s sports hall of fame, and is currently a member of the Salisbury-Rowan County Hall of Fame selection committee.

During his sports information years, Davidson was a member of CoSIDA and served as a coordinator of the judging of several media guide contests.

He is a Catawba graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in English in 1981.

Prior to returning to the Post, Davidson joined Carnival Magazine as editor, holding that post from April 2014 until March 2015.

Davidson’s wife, Toni, is a registered nurse at Wake Forest Baptist Health-Lexington Medical Center.

They reside in Salisbury, are members of Milford Hills United Methodist Church and have three grown daughters — Bethany,  residing in Spring Hill, Tenn., and Katie and Carrie, both of Salisbury.