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1940 Tom Harmon - Michigan

As a senior, Tom Harmon started all eight games for Michigan at the halfback position. The 1940 Michigan team compliled a 7-1 record, losing to national champion Minnesota by one point. They finished the season ranked number three in the final AP poll. For the season, Harmon rushed for 844 yards on 186 carries, and average of 105.5 yards per game.For the second year in a row, he led the country in scoring with 117 points on 16 touchdowns, 18 extra points, and one field goal. The opening game of the 1940 season was played on Harmon's 21st birthday. He celebrated by scoring four touchdowns, kicking four extra-points, and throwing a touchdown pass as the Wolverines beat California by a score of 41-0. Harmon's first score was on the opening kickoff, a 94 yard touchdown run.

On November 28, 1940 Harmon, nicknamed "Old 98",  was announced as the winner of the Heisman Trophy. He would also win the Maxwell award and the Big Ten MVP award for the 1940 season. He was named a unanimous All-American as well as Male Athlete of the Year by the AP. During World War II, he served as a pilot in the Army Air Forces. In April 1943, he was the sole survivor of the crash of a bomber he piloted in South America en route to North Africa. Six months later, while flying a P-38 Lightning, he was shot down in a dogfight with Japanese Zeros near KiuKiang in China. After the war, Harmon played two season of professional football for the Los Angeles Rams. He later pursued a career in sports broadcasting.
Tom Harmon was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.

Thomas Dudley Harmon (September 28, 1919 - March 15, 1990)

9/28/1940 at California
(W 41-0)

10/12/1940 at Harvard
(W 26-0)

10/26/1940 vs. Pennsylvania
(W 14-0)

11/16/1940 vs. Northwestern
(W 20-13)

10/5/1940 vs. Michigan State
(W 21-14)

10/19/1940 vs. Illinois
(W 28-0)

11/9/1940 at Minnesota
(L 6-7)

11/23/1940 at Ohio State
(W 40-0)

1941 Bruce Smith - Minnesota

Bruce Smith played halfback for the Minnesota Gophers where he won back-to-back national championships in 1940 and 1941. He was the captain of the undefeated 1941 Gophers squad. Nicknamed "Boo", Smith was the marquis triple-threat tailback of his era, Smith epitomized the single-wing offense and could seemingly do it all. During the 1941 season, Smith rushed for 473 yards on 84 carries and scored five touchdowns. He also passed for 320 yards and two touchdowns. After graduating, the All-American went on to garner MVP honors in the College All-Star game against the Chicago Bears that summer. The next year, Smith went to Hollywood, where he starred in the movie "Smith of Minnesota" about a small-town family whose son becomes an All-American halfback.

On December 9, 1941, just two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Smith was awarded the Heisman Trophy. Smith also earned first-team All-American and All-Big Ten Conference honors in 1941.

During World War II, he served as a United States Navy fighter pilot. After the war, he briefly played in the NFL with the Breen Bay Packers (1945-1948)  and the Los Angeles Rams (1948). 
Smith was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 1967, and he spent the next several months visiting young cancer patients with Rev, William Cantwell. Cantwell, who was unfamiliar with Smith's sports achievements, nominated Smith for sainthood.
His number 54 was the first to be retired by the University of Minnesota in 1977.

Bruce Smith was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972.

Bruce Phillip Smith (February 8. 1920 - August 28, 1967)

9/27/1941 at Washington
(W 14-6)

10/18/1941 vs. Pittsburgh
(W 39-0)

11/1/1941 vs. Northwestern
(W 8-7)

11/15/1941 at Iowa
(W 34-13)

10/11/1941 vs. Illinois
(W 34-6)

10/25/1941 at Michigan
(W 7-0)

11/8/1941 vs. Nebraska
(W 9-0)

11/22/1941 vs. Wisconsin
(W 41-6)

12/9/1941 Heisman Trophy Presentation ticket
(not part of my collection)

1942 Frank Sinkwich - Georgia

Frank Sinkwich is the first Georgia Bulldog to win the Heisman Trophy and the first winner to be born outside the United States. In his record setting senior season, the halfback gained 795 yards rushing and set the SEC passing record with 1.392 yards, a mark that stood for eight years. He set the SEC total offense record of 2,187 yards that same season. Although playing with two sprained ankles, he scored Georgia's only TD in a 9-0 victory over UCLA in the Rose Bowl game played at Pasadena.  In his three-year career with the Bulldog;'s, Sinkwich rushed for 2,271 yards, passed for 2,331 yards, and accounted for 60 touchdowns  - 30 rushing and 30 passing. At seasons end, he was named a unanimous All-America choice.

On November 28, 1942, Frank Sinkwich was awarded the Heisman Trophy. His 1,059 points surpassed his nearest competitor, Paul Governalli of Columbia,  by 851 points. 

Sinkwich went on the play in the NFL with the Detroit Lions where he earned All-Pro honors in 1943 and 1944. However, a knee injury suffered in 1945 essentially ended his professional football career. He served as a head coach of an Erie, Pa,. professioal team in 1949 and as head coach at the University o Tampa in 1950-51. 

Sinkwich was inducted into the University of Georgia Circle of Honor in 1996 and is one of only for Bulldog football players to have his jersey retired.
Frank Sinkwich was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954

Frank Francis Sinkwich Sr. (October 10. 1920 - October 22, 1990)

9/19/1942 at Kentucky
(W 7-6)

10/3/1942 vs. Furman
(W 40-7)

10/17/1942 vs. Tulane
(W 40-0)

10/31/1942 at Alabama
(W 21-10)

11/14/1942 vs. Centre
(W 40-0)

9/25/1942 vs. Florida Naval Station
(W 14-0)

10/10/1942 at Mississippi
(W 48-13)

10/24/1942 at Cincinnati
(W 25-13)

11/7/1942 at Florida
(W 75-0)

11/21/1942 at Auburn
(L 12-27)

11/28/1942 vs. Georgia Tech (full ticket)
(W 34-0)

1943 Angelo Bertelli - Notre Dame

The 1943 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team was led by quarterback Angelo Bertelli. Bertelli guided the Irish to an impressive 9-1 record and Notre Dame's fourth national championship. They beat seven teams ranked in the top 13 and played seven of their ten games on the road. Despite a season ending loss to great Lakes, Notre Dame was awarded its first national title bu the Associated Press. During his senior season of 1943, the Marine Corps activated Bertelli after six games of Notre Dame's 10-game season. In the six games Bertelli started in, he threw 36 passes, completing 25 of them for 512 yards . He also threw for 10 touchdowns. Bertelli's six-game 1943 performance was enough to garner him some attention in the Heisman Trophy race.

On December 2, 1943, Angelo Bertelli was announced as the Heisman Trophy winner. He was informed of his Heisman win while in boot camp at Parris Island. Due to this, the award presentation was delayed until January 12, 1944.

In 1944, Bertelli was promoted to second lieutenant, where he served in the Pacific, both at Guam and Iwo Jima. When World War II ended, Bertelli was stationed in Nagasaki with the 2nd Marine Division. On January 1, 1946 ha captained a Marine football team, The Nagasaki Bears, in the Atom Bowl against National Football League star Bill Osmanski and his Isahaya Tigers, where he threw two touchdown passes in the first half. 

Bertelli breifly played in the AAFC between 1947-1948 befor eknee surgery ended his career.

Angelo Bertelli was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1972.

Angelo Bortolo Bertelli (June 18, 1921 - June 26, 1999)

9/25/1943 at Pittsburgh
(W 41-0)

10/9/1943 at Michigan
(W 35-12)

10/23/1943 vs. Illinois
(W 47-0)

11/6/1943 at Army (Yankee Stadium)
(W 26-0)

11/20/1943 vs. Iowa Navy Pre-Flight School
(W 14-13)

10/2/1943 vs. Georgia Tech
(W 55-13)

10/16/1943 at Wisconsin
(W 51-0)

10/30/1943 at Navy (Cleveland Stadium)
(W 33-6)

11/13/1943 at Northwestern
(W 25-6)

11/27/1943 at Great Lakes Naval Station
(L 14-19)

1944 Les Horvath - Ohio State

Les Horvath entered Ohio State in 1939 on a work scholarship. Despite his small stature, he tried out for and made the football team the following year. He played as a reserve halfback on the 1942 team coached by Paul Brown that won Ohio State's first-ever national championship. Horvath graduated that year and moved to Ohio State's dental school. In 1944, however, acting Ohio State football coach Carroll Widdoes asked Horvath to rejoin the team, taking advantage of a World War II-era rule allowing graduate students with remaining eligibility to play. Horvath agreed and led the Buckeyes to a 9-0 record. He rushed for 905 yards and 1,250 all-purpose yards. The highlight of Horvath's season came when he scored the winning touchdown with 1:29 remaining against rival Michigan. Calling all of Ohio State's offensive plays, he was nicknamed the "playing coach"

On December 3, 1944, Les Horvath was awarded the Heisman Trophy. 

He would also win the Big Ten MVP award as well as being voted unanimous All-America. 

Horvath graduated dental school in 1945, joined the Navy as an ensign,.He was sent to Great Lakes Naval Station, where he practiced dentistry and acted as an assisstant coach under Paul Brown who coached the base's football team. Upon his discharge, Horvath joined the Los Angeles Rams. He worked as a dentist in the Los Angeles area in the offseason, but was released by the Rams in 1949. He went back to Cleveland and joined Paul Brown once again with the AAFC's Browns who went on to win their fourth straight AAFC championship. After his professional carrer, Horvath went back to Los Angeles and opened his dental practice.

Les Horvath was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.

Leslie Horvath (October 12, 1921 - November 14, 1995)

10/1/1944 vs. Missouri
(W 54-0)

10/14/1944 at Wisconsin
(W 20-7)

10/8/1944 vs. Iowa
(W 34-0)

10/21/1944 vs. Great Lakes
(W 26-6) 

10/29/1944 vs. Minnesota
(W 34-14)

11/4/1944 vs. Indiana
(W 21-7)

10/29/1944 vs. Minnesota
(Radio Booth pass)

11/11/1944 vs. Pittsburgh
(W 54-19)

11/18/1944 vs. Illinois
(Cleveland Stadium, Illinois colors)
(W 26-12)

11/18/1944 vs. Illinois
(Cleveland Stadium, Ohio State color)
(W 26-12)

11/25/1944 vs. Michigan (full ticket)
(W 18-14)

1944 Season Ticket booklet

1945 Felix "Doc" Blanchard - Army

Because his Father was a physician, Felix Blanchard was nicknamed "Little Doc" as a boy. Doc Blanchard's primary roll on the Army football team was fullback yet he also severed as a placekicker, a punter, and a linebacker on defense. During his three years of playing football at West Point, the Knights complied a record of 27-0-1 - the tie being the famous 0-0 game against Notre Dame in 1946. During the 1945 season, Blanchard rushed for 718 yards on 101 carries (7.18 average) and scored 13 touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 166 yards. While on defense, he returned three interceptions for touchdowns (two from 52 yards out and one from 37 yards). He also punted 21 times for 708 yards, a 33.7 average. Doc was referred to as "Mr. Inside" due to his hard-pounding style of running up the middle, into the line.

On December 3, 1945, Felix "Doc" Blanchard was awarded the Heisman Trophy, the first Junior to win the award. His 792 points surpassed those of his teammate Glenn Davis by 357 points. After graduating in 1947, Both Blanchard and Davis played themselves in the movie "The Spirit of West Point". Blanchard was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1946 NFL Draft, but he never played professional football instead choosing a military career. Doc served as a fighter pilot earning commendation for bravery in 1959. He later flew 113 missions during the Vietnam War and retired from the Air Force in 1971. He spent several more years as the commandant of cadets at the New Mexico Military Institute.
Felix "Doc" Blanchard was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959.

Felix Anthony "Doc" Blanchard (December 11, 1924 - April 19, 2009)

9/29/1945 vs. Louisville
(W 32-0)

9/29/1945 vs. Louisville (press pass)

10/6/1945 vs. Wake Forest (full ticket)
(W 54-0)

10/20/1945 vs. Mellville, R.I. USN (full ticket)
(originally scheduled against North Carolina)
(W 55-13)

11/3/1945 vs. Villanova
(W 54-0)

10/13/1945 vs. Michigan (Yankee Stadium)
(W 28-7)

10/27/1945 vs. Duke (Polo Grounds)
(W 48-13)

11/10/1945 vs. Notre Dame (Yankee Stadium)
(W 48-0)

11/10/1945 vs. Notre Dame (Press Pass,Yankee Stadium)

11/17/1945 at Pennsylvania
(W 61-0)

12/1/1945 vs. Navy (Municipal Stadium, Pa.)
(W 32-13)

1946 Glenn Davis - Army

At West Point, Under coach Earl Blaik, Davis played fullback in his freshman season, but moved to halfback for his three varsity seasons, while Doc Blanchard took over at fullback. Together, they formed perhaps the greatest backfield in football history - Davis was nicknamed "Mr. Outside", while Blanchard was "Mr. Inside". In 1945, Davis set a record when he averaged 11.51 yards per carry and scoring 18 touchdowns in nine games. Davis was not quite as explosive as a senoir in 1946, scoring 13 touchdowns while rushing for 712 yards, catching 20 passes for 348 yards and passing for 396 and four scores, but Davis was still very much in the Heisman talk after finishing second the two previous years.

On December 3, 1946, Glenn Davis was awarded the Heisman Trophy. Davis finished his collegiate career with a 27-0-1 record and two national championships (1944, 1945). Davis is Army's All-Time rushing leader with 2,957 yards and he still holds the NCAA record for most yards gained per carry in a career (8.3).  After graduating in 1947, Both Blanchard and Davis played themselves in the movie "The Spirit of West Point". In 1948, Davis started dating Elizabeth Taylor.The two were briefly engaged in 1949 but split up after months. Davis served in Korea, and later joined the Los Angeles Rams where he played on two championship teams. 
Glenn Davis was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1961.

Glenn Woodward Davis (December 26, 1924 - March 9, 2005)

9/21/1946 vs. Villanova
(W 35-0)

10/5/1946 vs. Cornell
(W 46-21)

10/19/1946 vs. Columbia
(W 48-14)

11/2/1946 vs. West Virginia
(W 19-0)

11/16/1946 at Pennsylvania
(W 34-7)

9/28/1946 vs. Oklahoma
(W 21-7)

10/12/1946 at Michigan
(W 20-13)

10/26/1946 vs. Duke (Polo Grounds, NYC)
(W 19-0)

11/9/1946 vs. Notre Dame (Yankee Stadium)
(T 0-0)

11/30/1945 vs. Navy (Municipal Stadium, Pa.)
(W 21-18)

1947 Johnny Lujack - Notre Dame

Lujack took over at quarterback for Notre Dame in 1943 when Angelo Bertelli was called to join the Marine Corps. He ended up helping the Irish to three national titles (1943, '46, '47) and establishing a reputation as one of the great T-formation signal-callers in college football history. He led the 1947 Fighting Irish to a 9-0 record while completing 61 passes on 109 attempts for 777 yards. He also ran for 139 yards on 12 carries. As he had in high school, Lujack earned varsity letters in four sports (baseball, football, basketball, track) while at Notre Dame, becoming the third person to do so. Lujack was a two-time All-American (1946 & 1947) He probably made his greatest play on defense. He preserved the '46 scoreless tie with Army making a touchdown-saving tackle of fullback Doc Blanchard.

On December 1, 1947, Johnny Lujack was awarded the Heisman Trophy. Johnny was also named the Associated Press Athlete of the Year for 1947. Drafted with the fourth pick in the 1948 NFL draft, Lujack played four years with the Chicago  Bears, leading the team in scoring each year, tying a record with eight interceptions as a rookie, throwing for a record 468 yards in a game in '49, and playing on the NFL Pro Bowl his last two seasons. Lujack became a backfield coach at Notre Dame for two seasons following his retirement from the NFL in 1952. He then went on to run an automotive dealership in Davenport, Iowa until he retired in 1988. 
Johnny Lujack was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1960.

John Christopher Lujack (January 24, 1925 - July 25, 2023)

10/4/1947 at PIttsburgh
(W 40-6)

10/18/1947 vs. Nebraska
(W 31-0)

11/1/1947 vs. Navy (Cleveland Stadium)
(W 27-0)

11/15/1947 at Northwestern
(W 26-19)

10/11/1947 at Purdue
(W 22-7)

10/25/1947 vs. Iowa
(W 21-0)

11/8/1947 vs. Army
(W 27-7)

11/22/1947 vs. Tulane
(W 59-6)

12/4/1947 at Southern California
(W 38-7)

1948 Doak Walker - Southern Methodist

Walker became a star as a sophomore at Southern Methodist as he rushed for 684 yards and eight touchdowns and passed for 342 yards and three scores to finish third in the Heisman vote, marking only the fourth time that a sophomore had placed in the top three of the balloting. He was just as dominant in 1948, rushing for 542 yards and eight touchdowns, catching 15 passes for 278 yards and two scores and throwing for 304 yards and five TD's. He also returned 10 punts for 169 yards and a touchdown. He totaled 161 yards on five kickoff returns, intercepted three passes for 75 yards, averaged 42.1 yards on 35 punts, and kicked 22 PAT's. Walker was a three-time All-American at SMU. He is considered the greatest athlete in the history of the Southwest Conference.

On November 30, 1948, Doak Walker was awarded the Heisman Trophy. His 1949 senior season was also steller. Walker ruched for 449 yards and 10 touchdowns and threw for 605 yards and five scores, but the Mustangs fell to 5-4-1 and Walker placed third in the Heisman vote behind Leon Hart of Notre Dame. Only Glenn Davis, Herschel Walker and Doak Walker can claim three top-three finishes in the Heisman vote. Walker was the third pick by the Detroit Lions in the 1950 NFL Draft, where he played for six seasons. He led the league in rushing during his best year and earned election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Doak was married to Olympic skier Gladys "Skeeter" Werner.  
Doak Walker was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959.

Ewell Doak Walker II (January 1, 1927 - September 27, 1998)

9/25/1948 at Pittsburgh
(W 33-14)

10/2/1948 vs. Texas Tech
(W 41-6)

10/9/1948 at Missouri
(L 14-20)

10/16/1948 at Rice
(W 33-7)

10/23/1948 vs.Santa Clara
(W 33-0)

10/30/1948 at Texas
(W 21-6)

11/6/1948 vs.Texas A&M
(W 20-14)

11/20/1948 vs. Baylor
(W 13-6)

11/13/1948 at Arkansas
(W 14-12)

11/27/1948 vs.Texas Christian
(T 7-7)

1948 SMU Football Season pass

1949 Leon Hart - Notre Dame

Hart established himself as the best all-around end in the country in 1949, catching 16 passes for four touchdowns to garner consensus All-America honors. As a senior, Hart caught 19 passes for 257 yards and five touchdowns, rushed 18 times for 73 yards and recovered three fumbles on defense. Notre Dame again went undefeated. A four-time letter-winner, Hart never played on the losing side during his years in a Notre Dame uniform as the Irish went 36-0-2 and claimed three national championships. Hart became a three-time first-team All-American and a consensus choice as a junior and senior, In 1949 he was voted the Associated Press male athlete of the year eclipsing both Jackie Robinson and Sam Snead. He also received the Maxwell Award as the top collegiate player of 1949.

On November 29, 1949, Leon Hart was awarded the Heisman Trophy, besting two-time runner-up Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice of North Carolina. Leon was Notre Dame's thrid Heisman winner and the last of two ends to win the award. He is also the largest Heisman winner in history at 6-5, 260-pounds. No one else in the country combined his size, speed, and pass-catching ability. He was also Notre Dame's most effective pass blocker. On defense, Hart called signals and was imovable off the end. As the first pick of the 1950 NFL Draft, Hart went on to play eight seasons with the Detroit Lions, helping the team to three NFL titles and earning All-Pro honors on both offense and defense in 1951 
Leon Hart was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1973.

Leon Joseph Hart (November 2, 1928 - September 24, 2002)

9/24/1949 vs. Indiana
(W 49-6)

10/1/1949 at Washington
(W 27-7)

10/8/1949 at Purdue
(W 35-12)

10/29/1949 at Navy
(W 40-0)

11/12/1949 at North Carolina (Yankee Stadium, full ticket)
(W 42-6)

10/15/1949 vs. Tulane
(W 46-7)

11/5/1949 at Michigan State
(W 34-21)

11/19/1949 vs. Iowa
(W 28-7)

11/29/1949 vs. Southern California
((W 32-0)

12/3/1949 at S.M.U.
(W 27-20)

12/3/1949 at S.M.U. (Sideline Pass)
(W 27-20)

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