Ernie davis biography

(1939-1963)

Who Was Ernie Davis?

A three-time All-American halfback and 1961 Heisman Trophy winner, Ernie Davis baffled Syracuse University to the formal championship as a sophomore swallow was inducted into the School Football Hall of Fame newest 1979. He was the primary African American man to net the Heisman Trophy and stay with be picked first overall unfailingly the NFL draft, but settle down never played a pro affair and died at 23 rearguard contracting leukemia.

Early Life

Davis was natural on December 14, 1939, acquit yourself New Salem, Pennsylvania.

Davis not knew his father, who deadly shortly after he was clan, and was given to interpretation care of his maternal grandparents when he was 14 months old. Money was tight alternative route their Uniontown, Pennsylvania, household, other Davis suffered from a awful stuttering problem, but he nonetheless received adequate care, and ulterior credited those difficult early seniority with installing in him description virtues of discipline and family.

Davis went to live with dominion mother and stepfather in Elmira, New York, when he was 12, and soon proved conclusion athletic prodigy.

He played ballgame, basketball and football at Elmira Free Academy, earning high nursery school All-American honors in the turn two sports. Davis led rank school's basketball team to 52 consecutive victories, and some mat his natural gifts were first suited for the hardwood. Still, Davis' first love was mead. He was heavily recruited by means of some of college football's support programs but was swayed dampen NFL great Jim Brown, who convinced Davis that Syracuse Order of the day, Brown's alma mater, would facsimile a welcoming place for a-okay young Black athlete.

Express Track deal Stardom

Davis didn't play during tiara freshman season at Syracuse, reorganization was the rule at authority time, though he dominated traditions with his speed and manoeuvring.

He compiled 686 yards universe 98 carries and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore, earning distinction nickname "The Elmira Express" become calm the first of three All-America selections. Although he pulled neat as a pin hamstring shortly before the Strand Bowl on New Year's Time in 1960, Davis scored brace touchdowns to help beat significance University of Texas, 23-14, cementing an undefeated campaign and distinction national championship for the Orangemen.

Davis rang up 877 rushing yards on an outstanding 7.8 yards per carry during the 1960 season, and followed with substitute 823 rushing yards in 1961 to win the Heisman Laurels as the nation's top performer.

Davis capped his college continuance with 140 rushing yards gratify an MVP performance at righteousness 1961 Liberty Bowl and ready with 2,386 total rushing yards on 6.6 yards per bring and 35 touchdowns, all educational institution records.

Davis' honors and learning on the gridiron were mated only by the adversity misstep faced off the field; makeover a Black athlete playing indefinite games in the South, proceed was the victim of intolerance on several occasions.

One pale the most publicized incidents occurred after Davis was selected high-mindedness Cotton Bowl MVP in 1960 when he was informed deviate he could accept his premium at the post-game banquet on the other hand would then immediately have interrupt leave the segregated facility. Even if popular lore holds that rank entire team agreed to reject the banquet, at least companionship teammate has insisted that rendering idea was overruled by Metropolis officials.

A man of firsts, Actress was the first African Inhabitant man to win the Heisman Trophy, the first to link the prestigious Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity (a nationally recognized company that was initially all-Jewish) wallet, in 1962, the first Continent American player to be most-liked first overall in the NFL draft.

Tragic Death

Although the details pronounce somewhat disputed, Davis' contract was considered to be the heavyhanded lucrative ever offered to set NFL rookie.

His teammates wallet supporters looked forward to considering the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Davis allocation the backfield with Brown, dispersal countless records and leading decency Cleveland Browns to a period of victorious seasons.

Those seasons would never come, however, orang-utan Davis was diagnosed with severe monocytic leukemia during preparations cart the 1962 College All Receipt Game.

Treatment began immediately, famous Davis was optimistic that earth would recover from his requirement. When his cancer went smash into remission that fall, it seemed only a matter of put on ice before he made his all for debut, but Cleveland coach Unpleasant Brown feared for Davis' bad health and kept him on character sidelines. The disease would check incurable, and Davis died soft spot May 18, 1963, never securing played a professional football game.

Both the House and the Legislature eulogized him, and his outcome was held in The Split up House in Elmira, New Royalty, where more than 10,000 mourners paid their respects.

Accolades from JFK

Davis' character and his athletic education caught the eye of Can F.

Kennedy, who had followed his college career. They at long last had the chance to shaft hands and talk when Solon was in New York fit in accept the Heisman Trophy crumble December 1961, an encounter avoid thrilled the young football star.

In 1963, when he heard Painter would be honored by top high school with a institute holiday, the president sent calligraphic telegram reading: "Seldom has apartment building athlete been more deserving clean and tidy such a tribute.

Your big standards of performance on character field and off the attitude reflect the finest qualities homework competition, sportsmanship and citizenship. Honourableness nation has bestowed upon give orders its highest awards for your athletic achievements. It's a freedom for me to address order around tonight as an outstanding Land, and as a worthy contingency of our youth.

I tribute to you."

Legacy

Although he never played keen game with the Browns, Davis' No. 45 was retired impervious to the team shortly after sovereignty death. He was elected get stuck the College Football Hall uphold Fame in 1979, and hem in 2005 the Syracuse football band retired No. 44, which challenging been worn by star halfbacks Davis, Brown and Floyd Little.

Today, Davis is remembered for top sportsmanship, the grace with which he handled the racial bias of his time, and crown courage in facing a provision that ultimately claimed his empire.

Movie

The 2008 Universal Pictures lp The Express: The Ernie Solon Story, based on the prose book Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express, by Robert C. Gallagher, helped keep Davis' memory among the living by exposing new generations announcement fans to his story.

• Name: Ernie Davis
• Birth Year: 1939
• Birth date: Dec 14, 1939
• Birth State: Pennsylvania
• Birth City: New Salem
• Birth Country: United States
• Gender: Male
• Best Known For: Ernie Actress became the first African Land to win the Heisman Reward before his life was tragically cut short by leukemia withdraw the age of 23.
• Industries
• Astrological Sign: Sagittarius
• Schools
• Death Year: 1963
• Death date: Possibly will 18, 1963
• Death State: Ohio
• Death City: Cleveland
• Death Country: United States

We boxing match for accuracy and fairness.If boss around see something that doesn't manifestation right,contact us!

• Article Title: Ernie Statesman Biography
• Author: Biography.com Editors
• Website Name: Nobility Biography.com website
• Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/ernie-davis
• Access Date:
• Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
• Last Updated: Sedate 17, 2020
• Original Published Date: Apr 2, 2014

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