Davis, Ernie (1939-1963), was the first African American to win the Heisman Memorial Trophy. He won the trophy in 1961 as the best college player of the year. Davis was a star running back for Syracuse University from 1959 to 1961. As a sophomore in 1959, he led Syracuse to an undefeated season and the national championship. Davis was the country’s third leading rusher in 1960. He was named to the All-American team in 1960 and 1961.
Davis graduated from Syracuse in 1962. He was selected by the Washington Redskins (now called the Washington Commanders) as the first player picked in that year’s National Football League (NFL) draft. Washington then traded Davis to the Cleveland Browns. However, Davis never played in an NFL game. He was diagnosed with leukemia in the summer of 1962 and died on May 18, 1963, at the age of 23.
Ernest Davis was born on Dec. 14, 1939, in New Salem, Pennsylvania. He attended Elmira Free Academy (renamed Ernie Davis Middle School in 1964) in New York, where he won 11 letters in football, basketball, and baseball. He was a high school All-American his junior and senior years. Davis was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1979.
