On December 1 1944 1944 Heisman winner Les Horvath
Les Horvath won the 1944 Heisman Trophy doing just about everything at Ohio State. The competition may have been lacking because of World War II. Horvath lacked little. He finished second in the nation with 905 rushing yards. He threw or ran for 12 touchdowns and averaged nearly 45 minutes of playing time per game. Legendary author Dan Jenkins first wrote this anecdote in Sports Illustrated four decades ago. It appeared in his 1971 book, “Saturday’s America,” as well. After World War II, Horvath married a woman who knew little about college football and a lot about how she wanted to decorate their home in Los Angeles. Shirley Horvath’s plan did not include a 25-pound bronze statue of a football player in the living room. Horvath explained to her the importance of the award, how it represented his greatest personal achievement, and couldn’t she just live with it for a while and see what she thought? She agreed. A few nights later, the Horvaths went to dinner at the home of 1940 Heisman winner Tom Harmon and his wife. Harmon displayed his Heisman prominently. Shortly after that, the Horvaths had dinner at the home of 1946 Heisman winner Glenn Davis and his wife. Davis’ Heisman stood proudly in the living room. Shirley had had enough. On the way home, she said, “You know that thing you want to keep in the living room? I wish you would tell me what’s so special about it. Everyone we know has one.”
— Ivan Maisel
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