THE QUESTION: Who is the greatest of the Heisman Trophy winners in football?
DR. M. HARRINGTON
Chancellor
Texas A&M
I am a spectator who loves the game, not a gridiron expert, and I haven't seen all the Heisman award winners in action. Of those I have seen, I choose John Crow, 1957 star back and All-America as the best. I like his style of ruggedness and determination. He is on his way to becoming a great pro star.
DICK KAZMAIER
Assistant to the Dean
Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration
The player I would choose I know only by reputation. To me he is a legend. Each year since he was killed in the war, the legend becomes more impressive. Nile Kinnick, the Iowa back, is the player I have in mind. He won the award in 1939. Next to him I pick Clint Frank, the Horatio Alger of Yale.
ALLISON DANZIG
Sportswriter
New York Times
Dick Kazmaier, Princeton back who won the 1951 award, because he played the most advanced attack, which called for more intelligence. He fitted perfectly into Coach Charlie Caldwell's deceptive and power plays from the single wing, which Caldwell never gave up for the universally accepted T.
EDWARD WALTERS
Railroad Traffic Manager
New York City
Leon Hart, awarded the Heisman Trophy for his outstanding play at end for Notre Dame in 1949. He later played end for the Detroit Lions. He then played fullback and was as great a fullback as he was an end. Hart was a main reason why the Lions licked the Browns for the championship in 1957.
JACK GALLAGHER
Sportswriter
Houston Post
Doak Walker, a star of the first magnitude and a marvelous thinker when he was on the gridiron. He could anticipate plays and situations better than any other player I have ever watched. He possibly was the greatest diagnostician of all time. He always knew where to be and when. He was an artist.
ROGER L. MAIN
Former president
Gator Bowl Jacksonville
Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis, the famous West Point inside-and-outside combination. You can't think of one without thinking of the other. Doc won the trophy in 1945 and Glenn in 1946. I think they should be pictured together in the National Football Hall of Fame when the building is constructed.
CHARLES COLLINS
President, National Carloading Corp.
New York City
I've seen all the Heisman award winners on the gridiron. Other than the Notre Dame greats (I'm a Notre Darner and don't want to seem prejudiced), I pick Jay Berwanger of the University of Chicago, the first man to win the Heisman award in 1935. He was the greatest back ever to play at the University of Chicago.
EARLE (GREASY) NEALE
Former pro football coach
New York City
I vote for Clint Frank of Yale, the best football player I ever saw. I have been saying this for 20 years. No one who saw Clint play has disagreed with me. In addition to being a great and powerful runner, he was the best defensive back I have ever seen. Frank Merriwell of Yale couldn't hold his hat.
GEORGE I. HALL
Former president Downtown Athletic Club
New York City
Johnny Lujack. As a collegian he had everything and he was great as a pro. When he played at Notre Dame he was the country's finest forward passer, as great as Sammy Baugh was at Texas Christian. Had Johnny played more than four professional seasons, he might have bettered some of Baugh's passing records.
CLIFFORD C. FURNAS
President, University of Buffalo
In terms of combined performance as a leader, football player and scholar, I pick Pete Dawkins, captain of Army. He was one of the fastest backs of the 1958 season, difficult to stop, a great defensive player, and as team captain he was an inspiration to his players and to the Corps of Cadets.
ELEVEN PHOTOS