Doak Walker

Ewell Doak Walker II (January 1, 1927 – September 27, 1998) was an American football halfback and kicker. Born in Dallas, Texas, he was the son of Ewell Doak Walker Sr., a Tennessee native and school teacher who later became assistant superintendent and personnel director of the Dallas school system, and his mother Emma, a Texas native; he had a younger sister, Elsa. Walker attended Highland Park High School in University Park, where he was a five-sport athlete in football, basketball, baseball, swimming, and track and field. In 1944 he led his high school football team to the state championship game, playing alongside future college and NFL star Bobby Layne.

Walker played college football for the SMU Mustangs, winning the Maxwell Award in 1947 and the Heisman Trophy in 1948. He then played professionally for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League from 1950 to 1955.

Walker was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. The Doak Walker Award, presented annually since 1990 to the top running back in college football, is named after him.