There lies in front of the Barberton library a statute of Jeep Davis. Many barberton residents do not remember of know Jeep. This story will give a quick over view of Jeep!!
Davis later played professional American football with the Detroit Lions and was a teacher and coach in his adopted hometown of Barberton, Ohio for 33 years.
Childhood and early life
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Davis was born in Wellsburg, West Virginia. When both his parents died when he was 15, he moved to Barberton, Ohio with his brother. He attended Barberton High School, and Marietta High School.
Davis singlehandedly led his team to the 1954 Class A Ohio high school track and field championship, scoring all 20 of Barberton’s points. Davis won the 220-yard dash, the broad jump and the 180-yard low hurdles – setting a then-state record in that event – while also placing fourth in the 100-yard dash. His point total placed him ahead of Mansfield, which scored 14 points in the meet and took second. He was offered more than 200 athletic scholarships for college, and chose to attend Ohio State University.[2]
College and Olympics
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Davis won Olympic titles in the 400 meter hurdles at both the Melbourne Olympics in 1956 and the Rome Olympics in 1960. In 1958, he was awarded the James E. Sullivan Award as the nation’s top amateur athlete.
Davis was either at or close to world records in many events including: 100 yards/meters (9.6/10.3), 200 meters (21.0), the half mile (1:52), 120 yard high hurdles (14.0), 200 meter low hurdles on curve (22.5 WR), 400 meter intermediate hurdles (49.2 WR), high jump (6-8), and long jump (24’8″). He, Felix Sanchez, Angelo Taylor and Edwin Moses are the only four hurdlers to have won the Olympic 400 meter hurdles twice. However Davis is the only man to have set world records in the quarter mile with hurdles and without. His coach Larry Snyder, who also had coached Jesse Owens, said that Davis was possibly a greater talent than Jesse Owens.[citation needed]
Davis won a third gold medal as a member of the United States 4 x 400 meter relay team in 1960. He set world records in both flat and hurdle races. He is a member of the United States Olympic Hall of Fame.[2]
Later careers
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Davis was featured on the June 27, 1960 cover of Sports Illustrated.[3][4] After his track career, Davis played wide receiver for the Detroit Lions in 1960 and 1961.[1] He had 10 catches for 132 yards in his two NFL seasons.[2] He was the track coach at Cornell University from 1963 to 1967, coaching the team to the Ivy League title in his final season.[2][5]
Davis was a longtime resident of Barberton, Ohio, teaching and coaching there for 33 years,[6] and was the owner of Jeep’s Olympic Driving School. Prior to this, Davis was a popular teacher at Barberton High School and part owner of one of the students’ favorite gathering spots, Jeep and Joe’s Pizza. He also loved to play the harmonica.[citation needed]
He was sometimes confused with Heisman Trophy-winning football player Glenn Woodward Davis (1924–2005). The two sportsmen occasionally received each other’s mail, but they never met.[5]
References
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- ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. “Glenn Davis”. Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
- ^ Jump up to:a b c d e “Olympic idol races into eternity”. Akron Beacon Journal. January 29, 2009. Archived from the original on February 1, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
- ^ Lilley, Bill (January 28, 2009). “Barberton legend ‘Jeep’ Davis dies”. Akron Beacon Journal. Archived from the original on January 30, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2009.
- ^ “Ohio.com – Barberton legend ‘Jeep’ Davis dies”. January 31, 2009. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ Jump up to:a b Schudel, Matt (January 31, 2009). “Olympic Champion, Coach and Teacher”. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 3, 2015. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
- ^ “Jeep Davis won 3 Olympic gold medals”. International Herald Tribune. Associated Press. January 29, 2009. Archived from the original on February 3, 2009. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
External links
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- Glenn Davis at World Athletics
- Glenn Davis at the USATF Hall of Fame (archived)
- Glenn Davis at the Team USA Hall of Fame (archive July 20, 2023)
- Glenn Davis at Olympics.com
- Glenn Davis at Olympic.org (archived)
- Glenn Davis at Olympedia
| showvteUS National Championship winners in men’s 400 m/440 yd hurdles |
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| showvteJames E. Sullivan Award winners |
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- 1934 births
- 2009 deaths
- American male sprinters
- American male hurdlers
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States in track and field
- World record setters in athletics (track and field)
- Detroit Lions players
- Ohio State Buckeyes men’s track and field athletes
- Cornell Big Red track and field coaches
- James E. Sullivan Award recipients
- People from Follansbee, West Virginia
- Track and field athletes from West Virginia
- Players of American football from West Virginia
- Sportspeople from Barberton, Ohio
- Medalists at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics
- NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships winners