View source for Glenn Davis (halfback)

{{Short description|American football player (1924–2005)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Glenn Davis
| image       = Glenn Davis 1947 Howitzer  Photo.jpg
| image_size  =
| alt         = 
| caption     = Davis on the 1947 West Point yearbook
| number      = 41
| position    = [[Halfback (American football)|Halfback]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1924|12|26}}
| birth_place = [[Claremont, California]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2005|3|9|1924|12|26}}
| death_place = [[La Quinta, California]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 5
| height_in   = 9
| weight_lb   = 175
| high_school = [[Bonita High School|Bonita]] {{avoid wrap|([[La Verne, California]])}}
| college     = [[Army Black Knights football|Army]] (1943–1946){{efn|It is disputed if he played for the [[Cal Poly Pomona Broncos]]}}
| draftyear   = 1947
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 2
| pastteams   =
* [[Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|1950|1951}})
| highlights  =
* [[List of NFL champions (1920–1969)|NFL champion]] ([[1951 NFL Championship Game|1951]])
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1951 Pro Bowl|1950]])
* 3× [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1944 Army Cadets football team|1944]], [[1945 Army Cadets football team|1945]], [[1946 Army Cadets football team|1946]])
* 3× [[Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy|Eastern champion]] (1944–1946)
* [[Heisman Trophy]] (1946)
* [[Maxwell Award]] (1944)
* [[Sporting News College Football Player of the Year|''SN'' Player of the Year]] (1946)
* [[Associated Press Athlete of the Year|AP Athlete of the Year]] (1946)
* 2× [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|Unanimous All-American]] ([[1945 College Football All-America Team|1945]], [[1946 College Football All-America Team|1946]])
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1944 College Football All-America Team|1944]])
* 4× First-team All-Eastern ([[1943 All-Eastern football team|1943]]−[[1946 All-Eastern football team|1946]])
* [[Army Black Knights football#Retired numbers|Army Black Knights No. 41]] retired
| statlabel1  = Rushing yards
| statvalue1  = 616
| statlabel2  = Rushing average
| statvalue2  = 4.1
| statlabel3  = Rushing [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3  = 4
| statlabel4  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue4  = 50
| statlabel5  = Receiving yards
| statvalue5  = 682
| statlabel6  = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6  = 5
| pfr         = D/DaviGl01
| CollegeHOF  = 1627 
}}

'''Glenn Woodward Davis''' (December 26, 1924 – March 9, 2005) was an American [[American football|football]] player who was a [[halfback (American football)|halfback]]. He won the [[Heisman Trophy]] in 1946 while playing [[college football]] for the [[Army Black Knights football|Army Cadets]]. Known as "'''Mr. Outside'''", he played for Army from 1943 to 1946, receiving the [[Maxwell Award]] in 1944 and [[College Football All-America Team|All-America]] honors three consecutive years from 1944 to 1946. The Cadets compiled a 27–0–1 record during Davis's three years as a varsity player and won the national championship each year. After completing his military service, Davis also played professionally for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) in 1950 and 1951.

==Early life==
Davis was born and raised in [[Southern California]], the son of a bank manager. Glenn and his twin brother Ralph played high school football at [[Bonita High School]] in [[La Verne, California]].<ref name=cpgmspl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BcwaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5409%2C2623275 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Press |title=Coast prep gridder most sought player |last=Grayson |first=Harry |date=January 10, 1943 |page=3, section 2 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204301/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BcwaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5409%2C2623275 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=amgscfp>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RRFIAAAAIBAJ&pg=1792%2C5170386 |newspaper=Victoria (TX) Advocate |agency=NEA |last=Grayson |first=Harry |title=Army gets Southern Cal's finest prospect |date=August 18, 1943 |page=7 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204259/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RRFIAAAAIBAJ&pg=1792%2C5170386 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1942, Davis led the Bearcats to an 11–0 record and the school's first-ever football championship, earning the [[CIF Southern Section|Southern Section]] Player of the Year award.<ref>CIF Southern Section Record Book, pages 72 & 81</ref> In 1987, Bonita High's stadium was dedicated in his name. The brothers were close and had originally planned to attend [[University of Southern California|USC]] in [[Los Angeles]], but when their [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] agreed to sponsor them with appointments to West Point, they decided to go there.

==College football career==
<!--(Cal Poly Pomona? When? High 
school grad in 1943 & was at West Point in August 1943, graduated in 1947) Davis initially played [[college football]] for the [[Cal Poly Pomona Broncos]].<ref>http://www.pro-football-reference.com/colleges/calpolypomona/ {{Bare URL inline|date=November 2021}}</ref>
<ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=xwSsGBMMhu8C&pg=PA730 {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2022}}</ref>-->

At West Point, under coach [[Earl Blaik]], Davis played [[Fullback (American football)|fullback]] in his freshman season. Blaik moved him to [[Halfback (American football)|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 Trojans football|USC]] backs [[Reggie Bush]] and [[LenDale White]], who had 99 career touchdowns.) In 2007, Davis was ranked No. 13 on [[ESPN]]'s list of Top 25 Players in College Football History.

For all three varsity years at West Point, Davis was a "consensus" [[College Football All-America Team|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 1961, Davis was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]].

Davis also starred in [[baseball]], [[basketball]], and [[Track and field|track]] at West Point.<ref name=mroda80>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oCwqAAAAIBAJ&pg=5746%2C8578366 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |agency=Los Angeles Times |last=Kupper |first=Mike |title='Mr. Outside' dies at 80|date=March 10, 2005 |page=7C }}</ref>

==After West Point==
Davis graduated from West Point in June 1947 and entered the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] as a [[Second lieutenant#United States|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.<ref name=rieye>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uD4aAAAAIBAJ&pg=3037%2C3546664 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=Associated Press |title=Rickey has eye on Davis of Army |date= October 26, 1949 |page=12 }}</ref>

In spite of Davis' service obligation, the [[1947 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]] of the [[National Football League]] selected Davis with the second overall pick of the [[1947 NFL draft]], held in December 1946.<ref name=ldgdoch>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JRwaAAAAIBAJ&pg=2586%2C527935 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Lions draft Glenn Davis on chance he will play |agency=news services |date=December 17, 1947 |page=6, part 2 }}</ref> In September 1947, the [[History of the St. Louis Rams|Los Angeles Rams]] acquired the rights to Davis from the Lions.<ref name=rgrtgld>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iwgtAAAAIBAJ&pg=2249%2C3263745 |newspaper=Miami News |agency=Associated Press |title=Rams get rights to Glenn Davis |date=September 10, 1947 |page=3C }}</ref> He applied to resign his commission in December, but  was refused by the [[United States Secretary of the Army|Secretary of the Army]] [[Kenneth Claiborne Royall|Kenneth Royall]].<ref name=reqden>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eTAaAAAAIBAJ&pg=5847%2C2604025 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=United Press |title=Army denies Glenn Davis his request |date=December 28, 1947 |page=1, part 3 }}</ref><ref name=adptqpf>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N3pWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6639%2C4665270 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |title=Army denies plea by Davis to quit service for ranks of pro football |date=December 28, 1947 |page=3, sports |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204305/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N3pWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6639%2C4665270 |url-status=live }}</ref>

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 ''[[The Spirit of West Point]]'' (about their football careers). Davis tore a ligament in his right knee during filming.<ref name=gldvhu>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zQ0kAAAAIBAJ&pg=4761%2C830873 |newspaper=Toledo Blade |agency=Associated Press |title=Glenn Davis sprains knee |date=August 14, 1947 |page=28 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204312/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zQ0kAAAAIBAJ&pg=4761%2C830873 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Davis served three years in the Army. While on leave in 1948, he attended the [[1948 Los Angeles Rams season|Rams training camp]] and played in a preseason game.<ref name=gdipdlatn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xhdZAAAAIBAJ&pg=5259%2C2786977 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=United Press |title=Glenn Davis in pro debut at LA tonight |date=September 2, 1948 |page=18 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204303/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xhdZAAAAIBAJ&pg=5259%2C2786977 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=enol>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WdAdAAAAIBAJ&pg=3221%2C1257228 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Eagles nose out Lions; Redskins defeat Rams |date=September 3, 1948 |page=8, part 2 }}</ref><ref name=gdinextnk>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19480902&id=WNAdAAAAIBAJ&pg=5575,768494 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=Associated Press |title=Glenn Davis appears in exhibition tonight |date=September 2, 1948 |page=8, part 2 }}</ref> He then reported for duty in [[Korea]] (this was before the [[Korean War]], which began after he returned to the U.S.).
[[File:Glenn Davis 1950 Bowman.jpg|thumb|230px|Davis depicted with the Rams in 1950]]

==Professional football career==
Davis' service obligation ended in 1950, and he finally joined the Rams for  [[1950 Los Angeles Rams season|their 1950 season]].<ref name=excdstr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3FopAAAAIBAJ&pg=6840%2C3383175 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |title=Ex-cadet star to join Rams |date=February 24, 1950 |page=16 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204304/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3FopAAAAIBAJ&pg=6840%2C3383175 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite his knee injury, Davis was an effective player, and was even named to the 1950 [[Pro Bowl]] on the strength of his 42 catches for 592 yards as a receiver and 416 yards on 88 carries as a runner; he had seven total touchdowns. He scored the first touchdown of the [[1950 NFL Championship Game]] on an 82-yard touchdown catch from [[Bob Waterfield]]; the Rams narrowly lost 30–28. In 1951, he injured his knee again, and he ran for a total of only 290 yards from scrimmage.<ref name=mroda80/> He caught three passes for ten yards while running the ball six times for -6 yards in the [[1951 NFL Championship Game]], which Los Angeles won 24–17.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195112230ram.htm | title=Championship - Cleveland Browns at Los Angeles Rams - December 23rd, 1951 | website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] | access-date=January 4, 2023 | archive-date=January 4, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104065953/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195112230ram.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

He did not play for the team in the [[1952 Los Angeles Rams season|1952 season]].<ref name=kisgdfs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19520721&id=8RIwAAAAIBAJ&pg=1619,2680211 |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |title=Knee injury sidelines Glenn Davis for season |date=July 21, 1952 |page=26 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204305/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19520721&id=8RIwAAAAIBAJ&pg=1619%2C2680211 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[1953 Los Angeles Rams season|In September 1953]], the Rams released him, ending his professional career.<ref name=njofgd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s-RXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6843%2C290098 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |title=No job offered to Glenn Davis |date=September 18, 1953 |page=16 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204310/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s-RXAAAAIBAJ&pg=6843%2C290098 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Post-football life==
Davis moved to [[Texas]] to work in the [[petroleum|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.<ref name=mroda80/><ref name="HofF"/> The ''Times'' gave the annual [[Glenn Davis Award]] in his honor (not to be confused with the [[Glenn Davis Army Award]]).

==Personal life==
Davis was married three times. In 1948, he dated actress [[Elizabeth Taylor]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Elizabeth Taylor: Photos from a legendary life.|url=http://life.time.com/culture/elizabeth-taylor-photos-from-a-legendary-life/#3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119005023/http://life.time.com/culture/elizabeth-taylor-photos-from-a-legendary-life/#3 |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 19, 2012 | magazine=Time | date=November 15, 2012}}</ref> From 1951 to 1952 he was briefly married to film actress [[Terry Moore (actress)|Terry Moore]].<ref name=gdtmof>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4YstAAAAIBAJ&pg=7054%2C1918215 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |agency=Associated Press |title=Glenn Davis to marry on Friday |date=February 7, 1951 |page=2 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204318/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4YstAAAAIBAJ&pg=7054%2C1918215 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=gdwatm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UJ40AAAAIBAJ&pg=4636%2C3838740 |newspaper=The Day |location=New London, CT |agency=Associated Press |title=Glen Davis weds actress Terry Moore |date=February 10, 1951 |page=12 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204307/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UJ40AAAAIBAJ&pg=4636%2C3838740 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=tdivgldv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tpgcAAAAIBAJ&pg=5929%2C2232984 |newspaper=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=Associated Press |title=Terry divorces Glenn Davis |date=April 16, 1952 |page=25 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204307/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tpgcAAAAIBAJ&pg=5929%2C2232984 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1953, Davis married Ellen Slack; they were married for 42 years, until her death in 1995. They had one son, Ralph. In 1996, Davis married Yvonne Ameche, widow of NFL star and fellow [[Heisman Trophy]] Winner [[Alan Ameche]]. Davis was survived by his wife Yvonne, his son, Ralph, and a stepson, John Slack III.<ref name="HofF"/>

Davis was sometimes confused with Olympic medal-winning athlete and [[Detroit Lions]] wide receiver [[Glenn Davis (athlete)|Glenn Ashby Davis]] (1934–2009); the two men occasionally received each other's mail, but they never met.<ref name="Ashby">{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Schudel |date=January 31, 2009 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/30/AR2009013003809.html |title=Olympic Champion, Coach and Teacher |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=October 16, 2023 |archive-date=December 3, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151203123328/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/30/AR2009013003809.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Death==
Davis died of [[prostate cancer]] at [[La Quinta, California]], at age 80 on March 9, 2005.<ref name=mroda80/><ref name="HofF">{{cite web |url=https://footballfoundation.org/news/2005/3/10/_52130.aspx?path=football |title=College Football Hall of Famer Glenn Davis Dies at 80 |date=March 10, 2005 |publisher=College Football Hall of Fame |access-date=May 24, 2009 |archive-date=December 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205003752/https://footballfoundation.org/news/2005/3/10/_52130.aspx?path=football |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=gdhsdfc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wvEyAAAAIBAJ&pg=6407%2C2364509 |newspaper=Free-Lance Star |location=Fredericksburg, VA |agency=Associated Press |title=Glenn Davis, Heisman winner, dies from cancer |date=March 10, 2005 |page=B4 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-date=July 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204320/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wvEyAAAAIBAJ&pg=6407%2C2364509 |url-status=live }}</ref> He is interred in [[West Point Cemetery]].

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly scoring leaders]]

==Notes and references==
{{Notelist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons}}
* {{College Football HoF|1627}}
* {{Heisman|glenn-davis}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=glenn-davis-2 |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=D/DaviGl01 |rotoworld=}}

{{Navboxes
| title = 
| list1 =
{{1944 Army Cadets football navbox}}
{{1945 Army Cadets football navbox}}
{{1946 Army Cadets football navbox}}
{{1951 Los Angeles Rams}}
{{Maxwell Award Winners}}
{{APAthleteOTY}}
{{Heisman Winners}}
{{Sporting News College Football Player of the Year}}
{{1944 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1945 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1946 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1947 NFL Draft}}
{{Second overall NFL draft picks}}
{{Lions1947DraftPicks}}
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}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Glenn}}
[[Category:1924 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:American football halfbacks]]
[[Category:American men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Army Black Knights baseball players]]
[[Category:Army Black Knights football players]]
[[Category:Army Black Knights men's basketball players]]
[[Category:Army Black Knights men's track and field athletes]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Rams players]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Heisman Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Maxwell Award winners]]
[[Category:Western Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:United States Army officers]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Burbank, California]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Claremont, California]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from La Verne, California]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Basketball players from Los Angeles County, California]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from California]]
[[Category:American twins]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer in California]]
[[Category:Burials at West Point Cemetery]]
[[Category:Military personnel from California]]
[[Category:Second overall NFL draft picks]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]