Displaced Fairy Tale

Ernie Davis, All-American Half Back, Dies at 23

Ernie Davis, as a senior for Syracuse University, was the first African-American to win the coveted Heisman Trophy Award. He was a three-sport standout in high school and a two-time All-American halfback at Syracuse who lead them to their only national championship title in football. He died of complications resulting from leukemia. He was just 23 years old.

Davis was born on Dec. 14, 1939, in New Salem, Pa. and grew up in the deep poverty of Pennsylvania’s coal-belt. His parents separated shortly after his birth, and after his father died in a terrible car accident, he was raised by his mother and step-father in Elmira, New York. He played basketball, baseball and football and he excelled in all three, earning 11 letters from Elmira Free Academy. He chose to try on football, making it his focus when he attended Syracuse University in 1958.

In the National Title game, Syracuse beat Texas 23-14,and Davis scored two touchdowns and had a Cotton Bowl record breaking 87-yard reception. He was selected the game’s Most Valuable Player despite having played the entire game with a pulled hamstring. Davis was supposed to receive his Most Valuable Player award at the awards banquet that night, but bowl officials told him that only white players were invited to the ball. He would have to leave after picking up his trophy, and consequently the Syracuse team refused to go to the banquet.

Despite the events at the Cotton Bowl, Davis became the nation's third-leading rusher, running for 877 yards and a school-record 7.8 yards per carry as he was voted a two-time All-American. In 1961 he became the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy award. Davis remarked on the occasion, “Winning the Heisman Trophy is something you just dream about, you never think it could happen to you.”

Before he passed away on May 18, 1963, Ernie wrote an article for the Saturday Evening Post in which he remarked, “Some people say I am unlucky. I don't believe it. And I don't want to sound as if I am particularly brave or unusual. Sometimes I still get down, and sometimes I feel sorry for myself. Nobody is just one thing all the time. But when I look back I can't call myself unlucky. My 23rd birthday was December 14. In these years I have had more than most people get in a lifetime.”

Family and friends are invited to visit Faith Temple Community C.O.G.I.C, Harper St., Elmira on Friday, May 22nd from 6 to 9 pm. His funeral service will be held there on Saturday, May 23rd at 10 am. Rev. James E. Jones, her Pastor, will officiate. Committal prayers and interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those wishing may remember Ernie through donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Central NY Chapter, 401 N. Salina St., Learbury Centre, Suite 304, Syracuse, NY 13203.