Web#erniedavisstorydive into the remarkable journey of ernie davis, a true gridiron legend who left an indelible mark on the world of football. Webshe and ernie were never officially engaged, although they'd started to talk about marriage. Helen describes herself as a person of faith, and she accepts ernie's. Webernie davis, wearing 44, against boston university, 1959: At the same time he was accomplishing these exploits on the field, he was quietly helping some friends. Webwhen davis visited marty harrigan and his wife louise in elmira for a summer barbeque, his normally prodigious appetite was gone. The harrigans especially noticed that he. Ernie davis became the first african american to win the heisman trophy before his life was tragically cut short by leukemia at the age of 23. Webernie davis (born dec. 14, 1939, new salem, pa. , u. s. —died may 18, 1963, cleveland, ohio) was an american collegiate gridiron football player who was the. 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. Webernie davis has been dead more years than he lived, and here you are calling me about him now. People still remember him and talk about him.