Corbett Davis
Encyclopedia
Richard Corbett "Corby" Davis (December 8, 1914 in Lowell, Indiana
– May 28, 1968 in Houlton, Maine
) was an American football
fullback
. He was the first overall pick in the 1938 NFL Draft
by the Cleveland Rams
.
He spent four seasons with the Cleveland Rams, leaving pro football to enlist in the service in 1942. Corbett served as a rifleman
with the Second Infantry Division in France
during World War II
. He was wounded in action in 1944, and continued his service in England
after recovering from his injuries.
After returning to the States, Corbett worked as an official
for games in the Big Ten Conference
. From 1952 until his death, he worked for the Scott Foresman publishing company. He died while on a fishing trip in Maine
in May 1968. He lost his footing while stepping out of a boat, fell on a tree branch, and ruptured his spleen
.
Lowell, Indiana
-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 7,505 people, 2,697 households and 2,030 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,839.2 per square mile . There were 2,809 housing units at an average density of 688.4 per square mile...
– May 28, 1968 in Houlton, Maine
Houlton, Maine
Houlton is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, on the United States – Canada border, located at . As of the 2010 census, the town population was 6,123. It is perhaps best known as being at the northern terminus of Interstate 95 and for being the birthplace of Samantha Smith...
) was an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
. He was the first overall pick in the 1938 NFL Draft
1938 NFL Draft
The 1938 National Football League Draft was held on December 12, 1937. The draft consisting of 12 rounds and 110 player selections, began with the leagues newest expansion team the Cleveland Rams taking Corbett Davis and ended with the Mr...
by the Cleveland Rams
History of the St. Louis Rams
The following is a detailed history of the St. Louis Rams a professional American football team and member of the National Football League .-AFL Cleveland Rams :...
.
He spent four seasons with the Cleveland Rams, leaving pro football to enlist in the service in 1942. Corbett served as a rifleman
Rifleman
Although ultimately originating with the 16th century handgunners and the 17th century musketeers and streltsy, the term rifleman originated from the 18th century. It would later become the term for the archetypal common soldier.-History:...
with the Second Infantry Division in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was wounded in action in 1944, and continued his service in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
after recovering from his injuries.
After returning to the States, Corbett worked as an official
Official (American football)
In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.During professional and college football games, seven officials operate on the field...
for games in the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
. From 1952 until his death, he worked for the Scott Foresman publishing company. He died while on a fishing trip in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
in May 1968. He lost his footing while stepping out of a boat, fell on a tree branch, and ruptured his spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
.