Glenn Davis

Glenn Davis, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1946 and helped lead Army to three national championships, died in March 2005. He was 80. Davis died of complications from prostate cancer at his home in La Quinta, located about 110 miles east of Los Angeles, said his son, Ralph Davis. Glenn Davis will be buried at West Point, near his former coach, Col. Earl "Red" Blaik, according to his son. Davis starred as a halfback for Army when it won national titles in 1944 and 1945. The Cadets and Notre Dame played to a scoreless tie in 1946, and split the national championship. Davis teamed with fullback Felix "Doc" Blanchard as one of the most heralded backfields in the history of college football. He was known as "Mr. Outside" to Blanchard's "Mr. Inside." He still holds NCAA records for most yards gained per play in one season, averaging 11.5 yards per carry in 1945; 8.3 career yards per carry; and he and Blanchard share the record for most touchdowns (97) and points (585) scored by teammates in a career. In 1946, Davis won the Heisman and was voted male athlete of the year by The Associated Press. After serving his military obligation, Davis joined the Los Angeles Rams, playing on the team that won the 1951 NFL championship before a knee injury cut his career short in 1952. Davis was coming off a record-breaking career at Bonita High School in LaVerne, Calif., where he scored an amazing 256 points during his senior year, when he was persuaded to play for Army in 1943. Davis and Blanchard were national sports heroes, appearing on the cover of Time magazine in November 1945. Despite the accolades, Davis over the years showed a certain modesty about his prowess. Born in Claremont, Davis attended college with his late twin brother, Ralph, and later worked as a special events director for the Los Angeles Times for nearly 30 years after leaving football. Several years ago, he donated his Heisman to his high school. Besides his son, Davis is survived by his third wife, Yvonne Ameche Davis, and a stepson, John S. Slack III from his second marriage. Davis' first marriage to Oscar-nominated actress Terry Moore ended in divorce after 14 months. Davis, who also briefly dated Elizabeth Taylor, met Yvonne at the 1996 Heisman dinner. She was previously married to 1954 Heisman winner Alan Ameche of Wisconsin. In addition to his stepson, John Slack III, of Baton Rouge, La., from his marriage to the former Harriet Slack, who died in 1995, Davis is survived by his third wife, Yvonne; his son, Ralph, of California; a sister, Mary Gammons, of Pomona, Calif.; and four grandchildren.