Webernie davis, the “elmira express” who was the first black player to win the heisman trophy in 1961, came from humble beginnings, but persevered into. Webhowever, his rise to fame was met with a devastating blow when he was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia at the young age of 23. This article delves into. Webernie overcame tremendous adversity at a time when the united states was in the midst of the civil rights movement. In 1962, ernie was the first overall nfl draft pick, chosen by. Webvery young, out looking for a job and unable to care for ernie, marie davis fleming sent her only child, at the age of 14 months, into the care of her mother and. Webeven in grade school, ernie could always run faster and throw harder and kick farther than anybody else who booted scuffed old footballs around the sooty playgrounds of. They would do well to.
