Services were at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 5, 2009 in Mount Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. James Collins, pastor, officiating and the Rev. Mervin Davis Jr., pastor of True Love Baptist Church in Fairfield, Calif., assisting. Arrangements were by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes St.

Donald “Don” Shanklin was born November 3, 1946, in Amarillo to Clyde E. Shanklin and Rose Marie Davis. Don was educated in the public schools of Amarillo and graduated from Carver High School in 1965. He attended Kansas University, where he was a prestigious athlete. He was awarded Most Valuable Player of the 1969 Orange Bowl. His professional football career spanned 10 years, beginning in 1969, when he was a ninth-round draft choice for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played in the Canadian Football League, the Atlantic Coast Conference and the World Football League. In his later years, he was a professional golfer.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clyde E. Shanklin; and a brother, Ron Shanklin.

Those who will be most profoundly deprived of the warmth of his smile and the strength of his noble character include his wife, Juanetta Bradley-Shanklin; his mother and stepfather, Rose Marie and Mervin Davis Sr.; a special aunt, Willetta Jackson and husband Ben; eight children, Phaleria Hollins and husband Cedric, Pauala “Lisa” Shanklin, Bertram Bradley and wife Tina, Kendra Gipson, Donald Shanklin Jr. and wife Vil, Terrence Gordon and wife Theresa, Denice Guess and husband Lance and Abdul Shanklin; three sisters, Metris Harrison, Rose Shanklin Taylor and husband Charles and Denise Davis-Moore and husband James; seven brothers, Robert Shanklin, Mervin Davis Jr. and wife Rosie, Gerald Davis, Reginald Davis and wife Francina, Murphy Davis and wife Pam, Derrick Davis and Felix Davis; a sister-in-law, Linda Shanklin; a special “brother,” Edward Burns; 26 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and family.