Glenn Davis – Athlete, Football Player (1924–2005)
Full name: Glenn Woodward Davis
Date of birth: December 26, 1924
Place of birth: Claremont, California
Date of death: March 9, 2005 (aged 80)
Place of death: La Quinta, California
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight: 175 lb (79 kg)
Position: Halfback
Early Life
Glenn Woodward Davis was born on December 26, 1924, in Claremont, California. He was an American football player who, teamed with Doc Blanchard to form arguably the greatest rushing tandem in the history of American collegiate football. The speedy and elusive Davis was “Mr. Outside” to Blanchard’s “Mr. Inside” on the great Army teams of the mid-1940s.
Led by their impressive backfield, the Cadets amassed a 27–0–1 record between 1944 and 1946 while collecting three national championships. Davis was a three-time All-American, and he won the Heisman Trophy in 1946.
Davis graduated from West Point in June 1947 and entered the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant. He was offered a contract and $75,000 signing bonus by the Brooklyn Dodgers, but declined, as he was required to serve in the Army and would be a relatively old rookie after that.
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 High’s stadium was dedicated in his name. The brothers were close and had originally planned to attend USC in Los Angeles, but when their U.S. Representative agreed to sponsor them with appointments to West Point, they decided to go there.
Davis’ service obligation ended in 1950, and he finally joined the Rams for their 1950 season.
Despite his knee injury, Davis was an effective player, and was even named to the 1950 Pro Bowl, but in 1951, he injured his knee again. He was out for the 1952 season. In September 1953, the Rams released him, ending his professional career.
Davis moved to Texas to work in the oil industry, but returned to California a few years later. He became special events director for the Los Angeles Times, organizing and directing the newspaper’s charity fundraising events. He held this job until his retirement in 1987.
Davis was died on March 9, 2005, in La Quinta, California.
Playing Career
Glenn and his twin brother Ralph played high school football at Bonita High School 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 High’s stadium was dedicated in his name. The brothers were close and had originally planned to attend USC in Los Angeles, but when their U.S. Representative agreed to sponsor them with appointments to West Point, they decided to go there.
At West Point, under Coach Earl Blaik, Davis played fullback in his freshman season. Blaik moved him to halfback for his three varsity seasons, while Doc Blanchard took over at fullback. With Davis and Blanchard, Army went 27-0-1 in 1944, 1945, and 1946. Davis was nicknamed “Mr. Outside”, while Blanchard was “Mr. Inside”.
Davis averaged 8.3 yards per carry over his career and 11.5 yards per carry in 1945; both results are records which still stand today. Davis led the nation in 1944 with 120 points. He 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.
Blanchard and he set a then-record 97 career touchdowns by two teammates. The record was broken by USC backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White, who had 99 career touchdowns.
For all three varsity years at West Point, Davis was a “consensus” All-America player (that is, selected by all the different groups picking All-America teams). In 1944, he won the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Trophy, and was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. In 1945, he was again runner-up for the Heisman (won by his teammate Blanchard). In 1946, he won the Heisman and was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year.
In spite of Davis’ service obligation, the Detroit Lions of the National Football League selected Davis with the second overall pick of the 1947 NFL Draft, held in December 1946.
In September 1947, the Los Angeles Rams acquired the rights to Davis from the Lions. He applied to resign his commission in December, but was refused by the Secretary of the Army Kenneth Royall.
Davis was also denied extended furloughs or other accommodations that might allow him to play football while serving in the Army. There was public feeling that after the expense of his West Point education, he should not just go off to play football.
Davis (and Blanchard) did earn $25,000 each by appearing in the low-budget movie Spirit of West Point (about their football careers). Davis tore a ligament in his right knee during filming.
Davis served three years in the Army. While on leave in 1948, he attended the Rams training camp and played in a preseason game. He then reported for duty in Korea (this was before the Korean War, which began after he returned to the U.S.).
Davis also starred in baseball, basketball, and track at West Point.
Despite his knee injury, Davis was an effective player, and was even named to the 1950 Pro Bowl, but in 1951, he injured his knee again. He was out for the 1952 season. In September 1953, the Rams released him, ending his professional career.
Personal Life
Glenn Woodward Davis was born on December 26, 1924, in Claremont, California. Davis was born and raised in Southern California, the son of a bank manager.
Davis was married three times. In 1948, he dated actress Elizabeth Taylor. From 1951 to 1952 he was briefly married to film actress Terry Moore.
In 1953, Davis married Ellen Slack; they were married for 42 years, until her death in 1995. They had one son, Ralph.
In 1974, his exploits, and those of the 1944 Army team, are mentioned by Lou Grant while discussing football with another man in a public bar in season five, episode 16 of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–77), which aired on Saturday, January 4, 1975.
In 1996, Davis married Yvonne Ameche, widow of NFL star Alan Ameche. Davis was survived by his wife Yvonne, his son, Ralph, and a stepson, John Slack III.
(Glenn Davis with his family)
Death
Davis died of prostate cancer at La Quinta, California, at age 80 on March 9, 2005. He is interred in West Point Cemetery.
Honours
In 1946, he won the Heisman and was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year. In 1961, Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 2007, Davis was ranked #13 on ESPN’s list of Top 25 Players in College Football History.
The Times gives the annual Glenn Davis Award in his honor (not to be confused with the Glenn Davis Army Award).
