History of the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award

In 1935, Downtown Athletic Club Journal Editor Willard Prince approached the DAC's Athletic Director and legendary college football head coach, John Heisman, to pitch him an idea. What if the DAC established an annual award to be given to college football's most outstanding player from east of the Mississippi River? Heisman struck the idea down quickly, "it's a team sport, you can't single out one player."

Prince then offered his idea to the board members at the DAC, and they loved it. It didn't hurt that it would bring a lot of publicity to their club. Sculptor Frank Eliscu, using NYU's Ed Smith as his model, was comissioned to create the trophy. Ballots were drawn up and sent to 70 writers and broadcaster. Three points were awarded for a first place vote, two for second, and one for third. 65 ballots would be returned that inaugural year.

Later that year, Chicago's Jay Berwanger won the first DAC Trophy with 84 points. 10 short months later, Heisman passed away at the age of 66. Prince and the DAC paid homage to their friend and colleague by renaming the award and it would forever be known as "The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award." The geographic restrictions would be lifted as well and it would become a nationwide award. TCU's Davey O'Brien would be the first winner from the "west" in 1938. Prince would remain the committee chairman until his death in 1949.

The Heisman Trophy Trust was established in 2003 with a mission to ensure the continuation and integrity of this award.