Glenn Woodward Davis
Encyclopedia
Glenn Woodward Davis was an American football
halfback
famous in the 1940s. A graduate of the Class of 1947 at the United States Military Academy
at West Point
, Davis initially played college football
for the Cal Poly Pomona
Broncos
. Under coach
Earl Blaik
, one of the greatest coaches in college football history, Davis teamed with Doc Blanchard
to form a devastating pair of runners. With Davis and Blanchard, Army went 27-0-1 between 1944 and 1946.
Davis, nicknamed "Mr. Outside", won the Maxwell Award
in 1944 and the Heisman Trophy
in 1946. He was also among the runners up in 1944 and 1945. Blanchard, his teammate, won the award in 1945. Davis also was named the Associated Press
Male Athlete of the Year in 1946. He also captured the Walter Camp
Trophy during his career.
He died of prostate cancer
at La Quinta, California
on March 9, 2005 at 80.
in La Verne, California
. In 1942, Davis led the Bearcats to an 11-0 record and the school's first-ever football championship, earning the Southern Section Player of the Year award. In 1989, Bonita's stadium was dedicated in his name. The brothers were close and had originally planned to attend USC
, but when their Congressman agreed to sponsor both him and his brother with appointments to West Point
they decided to play football there.
s. He still holds the all-time record for most yards averaged per carry in a season, with 11.5 yards in 1945. Together with Blanchard, they set a then-record 97 career touchdowns by a pair of teammates. (The record was broken by University of Southern California
backs Reggie Bush
and LenDale White
, who had 99 career touchdowns.) In 2007, Davis was ranked #13 on ESPN
's Top 25 Players In College Football History list.
Davis was a unanimous three-time All-America halfback in football and also starred in baseball, basketball and track while at West Point. During his time at Army, the Cadets enjoyed three unbeaten seasons under Coach Blaik.
He averaged 8.3 yards per carry throughout his career and an astounding 11.5 yards per carry in 1945, both respective records that still stand today. Davis led the nation in 1944 with 120 points and scored 59 touchdowns, including eight on his freshman squad, in his career. His single-season mark of 20 touchdowns stood as a record for 10 years.
actress Terry Moore
. At the time of his death, Davis was survived by his wife, Yvonne Ameche Davis, a son, Ralph, and a stepson, John Slack III.
. A knee injury in 1952 ended his professional career. He worked for the Los Angeles Times
for three decades as special events director. They annually award the Glenn Davis Award
(not to be confused with the Glenn Davis Army Award
).
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...
halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
famous in the 1940s. A graduate of the Class of 1947 at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
at West Point
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
, Davis initially played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Cal Poly Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, or Cal Poly Pomona, is a public university located in Pomona, California, United States...
Broncos
Cal Poly Pomona Broncos
The Cal Poly Pomona Broncos or Cal Poly Broncos are the athletic sports team for the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona . Cal Poly Pomona has 12 varsity sports teams and offers student participation in a wide range of sports including soccer, volleyball, track and field, basketball, ...
. Under coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
Earl Blaik
Earl Blaik
Earl Henry "Red" Blaik was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and United States Army officer. He served as the head football coach at Dartmouth College from 1934 to 1940 and at the United States Military Academy from 1941 to 1958, compiling a career college...
, one of the greatest coaches in college football history, Davis teamed with Doc Blanchard
Doc Blanchard
Felix Anthony "Doc" Blanchard is best known as the college football player who became the first ever junior to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and was the first ever football player to win the James E. Sullivan Award, all in 1945. He played football for the United States Military Academy at...
to form a devastating pair of runners. With Davis and Blanchard, Army went 27-0-1 between 1944 and 1946.
Davis, nicknamed "Mr. Outside", won the Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
in 1944 and the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
in 1946. He was also among the runners up in 1944 and 1945. Blanchard, his teammate, won the award in 1945. Davis also was named the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
Male Athlete of the Year in 1946. He also captured the Walter Camp
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
Trophy during his career.
He died of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
at La Quinta, California
La Quinta, California
La Quinta is a resort city in Riverside County, California, USA, specifically in the Coachella Valley between Indian Wells and Indio. The population was 37,467 at the 2010 census, up from 23,694 at the 2000 census. The Robb Report credits La Quinta as the nation's leading golf destination...
on March 9, 2005 at 80.
Early life
He and his twin brother Ralph played high school football at Bonita High SchoolBonita High School
Bonita High School is a high school located in the city of La Verne, California in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Opened in 1903, it was the first high school in the Bonita Unified School District. It moved to its current campus in 1959. The majority of its students come from Ramona...
in La Verne, California
La Verne, California
La Verne is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 31,063 at the 2010 census, down from 31,638 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. In 1942, Davis led the Bearcats to an 11-0 record and the school's first-ever football championship, earning the Southern Section Player of the Year award. In 1989, Bonita's stadium was dedicated in his name. The brothers were close and had originally planned to attend USC
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, but when their Congressman agreed to sponsor both him and his brother with appointments to West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
they decided to play football there.
College career
As a collegian, Davis scored a then-record 59 touchdownTouchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He still holds the all-time record for most yards averaged per carry in a season, with 11.5 yards in 1945. Together with Blanchard, they set a then-record 97 career touchdowns by a pair of teammates. (The record was broken by University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
backs Reggie Bush
Reggie Bush
Reginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
and LenDale White
LenDale White
LenDale Anthony White is an American football running back. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California....
, who had 99 career touchdowns.) In 2007, Davis was ranked #13 on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Top 25 Players In College Football History list.
Davis was a unanimous three-time All-America halfback in football and also starred in baseball, basketball and track while at West Point. During his time at Army, the Cadets enjoyed three unbeaten seasons under Coach Blaik.
He averaged 8.3 yards per carry throughout his career and an astounding 11.5 yards per carry in 1945, both respective records that still stand today. Davis led the nation in 1944 with 120 points and scored 59 touchdowns, including eight on his freshman squad, in his career. His single-season mark of 20 touchdowns stood as a record for 10 years.
Personal
Davis was married three times. From 1951 to 1952 he was married to the AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress Terry Moore
Terry Moore (actress)
Helen Luella Koford , better known as Terry Moore, is an American actress. Terry Moore made her film debut at age 11 and grew up with all the icons of the Hollywood era that made Hollywood what it is today, also known as "The Golden Age of Hollywood". Moore is an Academy Award nominated actress...
. At the time of his death, Davis was survived by his wife, Yvonne Ameche Davis, a son, Ralph, and a stepson, John Slack III.
Professional career
Briefly dated Elizabeth Taylor [Life Magazine]. After graduation, Davis served three years in the military before joining the Los Angeles RamsHistory 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 :...
. A knee injury in 1952 ended his professional career. He worked for the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
for three decades as special events director. They annually award the Glenn Davis Award
Glenn Davis Award
The Glenn Davis Award is given out annually since 1987 by the Los Angeles Times to the best high school football player in the Los Angeles area. It is named after Glenn Woodward Davis, the 1946 Heisman Trophy winner, who prepped at Bonita High School in La Verne, California and Cal Poly Pomona in...
(not to be confused with the Glenn Davis Army Award
Glenn Davis Army Award
The Glenn Davis Army Award is given annually to the player of the West team at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, who best epitomizes the US Army's high standards of excellence in community service, education, and athletic excellence...
).