Express: The Ernie Davis Story

“He could do it all, beat every opponent . . . except one.”
–plaque honoring Ernie Davis, in the lobby of Elmira Free Academy

Ernie Davis was an All-American on the gridiron, and a man of integrity off the field. A multi-sport high school star in Elmira, New York, Davis went on to Syracuse University, where as a sophomore he led his team to an undefeated season and a national championship in 1959, and earned his nickname, the Elmira Express. Two seasons later, Davis had broken the legendary Jim Brown’s rushing records, and became the first black athlete to be awarded the Heisman Trophy.

The number one pick in the 1962 NFL draft, Davis signed a contract with the Cleveland Browns and appeared to be headed for professional stardom. But Davis never ended up playing in the NFL: He was diagnosed with leukemia during the summer before his rookie season and succumbed to the disease less than a year later. In battling his illness, Davis showed great dignity and courage, inspired the nation, and moved President John F. Kennedy to eulogize him as “ an outstanding man of great character.”

An enduring story of a true scholar-athlete, The Express is a touching, impeccably researched, deeply personal portrait of Ernie Davis, and a vivid look at sport in America at the dawn of the Civil Rights era.

An enduring story of a true scholar-athlete, The Express is a touching, impeccably researched, deeply personal portrait of Ernie Davis and a vivid look at sport in America at the dawn of the Civil Rights era.

Barbara Valle - Library Journal

This sports biography was first published in print in 1999 as Ernie Davis: The Elmira Express(Bartleby) and was reprinted as a Ballantine hardcover in September 2008. In it, Gallagher, a freelance sportswriter who also works for the Fairfax County Public Library, VA, tells the story of the 1950s Syracuse University star running back who signed with the Cleveland Browns after becoming the first African American ever to win football's Heisman Trophy. Before he was able to play a single game, however, Davis was diagnosed with leukemia, from which he died less than a year later. Reader Paul Boehmer (Moby Dick) was wisely cast for this performance-he has that youthful, intense voice associated with sports reporting. Recommended for libraries with extensive sports or football history collections and for those with a special interest in the Civil Rights Movement. [Made into a well-received 2008 movie starring Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown.-Ed.]

Robert C. Gallagher is an alumnus of Syracuse University and a free-lance sportswriter. His articles have appeared in Baseball Digest, The Washington Post, the Redskins Report and other publications. He works for the Fairfax County Public Library in Virginia.