NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Former Westminster College football player Harold Davis passed away Sunday, Dec. 9, at his home in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., after a long bout with cancer at the age of 73. Davis was one of four men from Westminster inducted the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.
Davis was a standout quarterback for the Titans from 1953-56 and became the first and only three-time, first-team All-America football player in school history. Davis, who played quarterback under Hall of Fame head coach Harold Burry during a time when African-Americans rarely played the position, led Westminster to an overall record of 28-1-1 (.950), including the first undefeated seasons in school history in 1953 (8-0), 1955 (6-0-1) and 1956 (8-0).
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, and a graduate of North High School, Davis also lettered in basketball and track at Westminster. His 1,209 career points scored currently ranks 19th on the Westminster basketball team's career scoring list.
Davis graduated from Westminster in 1957 with a degree in economics. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL, but chose to serve in the U.S. Army. After teaching and coaching and serving as an administrator in the Youngstown Public School District, Davis served as an executive for the Xerox Corporation for 22 years. A resident of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Davis was president of H&S Consulting during his retirement years.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in August of 2004 along with players such as Darrell Green (Texas A&I), Jimbo Covert (Pitt), Joe Theismann (Notre Dame) and Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State). He was the fourth Westminster individual inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, joining Burry (Hall of Fame induction class of '96), former lineman/linebacker Larry Pugh (HOF '98) and former head coach Joe Fusco (HOF '01).
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Shirley (Clarett), sons H. Wade and Michael, three grandsons, brother Frank Davis and sister Ann White.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is ranked 15th among liberal arts colleges, according to the Washington Monthly 2007 Annual College Guide. Westminster is a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 366 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and was recognized by the Templeton Guide as a "Character Building College."
Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus.
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Former Westminster College football player Harold Davis passed away Sunday, Dec. 9, at his home in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., after a long bout with cancer at the age of 73. Davis was one of four men from Westminster inducted the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind.
Davis was a standout quarterback for the Titans from 1953-56 and became the first and only three-time, first-team All-America football player in school history. Davis, who played quarterback under Hall of Fame head coach Harold Burry during a time when African-Americans rarely played the position, led Westminster to an overall record of 28-1-1 (.950), including the first undefeated seasons in school history in 1953 (8-0), 1955 (6-0-1) and 1956 (8-0).
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, and a graduate of North High School, Davis also lettered in basketball and track at Westminster. His 1,209 career points scored currently ranks 19th on the Westminster basketball team's career scoring list.
Davis graduated from Westminster in 1957 with a degree in economics. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL, but chose to serve in the U.S. Army. After teaching and coaching and serving as an administrator in the Youngstown Public School District, Davis served as an executive for the Xerox Corporation for 22 years. A resident of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., Davis was president of H&S Consulting during his retirement years.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in August of 2004 along with players such as Darrell Green (Texas A&I), Jimbo Covert (Pitt), Joe Theismann (Notre Dame) and Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State). He was the fourth Westminster individual inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, joining Burry (Hall of Fame induction class of '96), former lineman/linebacker Larry Pugh (HOF '98) and former head coach Joe Fusco (HOF '01).
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Shirley (Clarett), sons H. Wade and Michael, three grandsons, brother Frank Davis and sister Ann White.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is ranked 15th among liberal arts colleges, according to the Washington Monthly 2007 Annual College Guide. Westminster is a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 366 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and was recognized by the Templeton Guide as a "Character Building College."
Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus.
