Arkansas State University

Tommy Davis played football for the Indians in 1958 and 1959 for Coach Hugh "Bones" Taylor. A 191-pound center, Davis excelled both on and off the field as he served as a Student Government Association representative, was a battle group commander of the ROTC Corps as a cadet colonel, was vice-president of the "A" Club, and maintained a "B" average while majoring in math. 

As a center who also played linebacker, Davis became ASU's key man on defense. He was rated as ASU's speediest lineman and the best down-field blocker. Coach Taylor said of Davis, "He has the wonderful ability to diagnose plays and the speed to do something about it." 

Davis was voted his team's Most Valuable Player in 1958. He came to ASU from Gordon Military College in Georgia after earning that school's "Lineman of the Year" honors and being selected as a member of the junior college all-state team. After graduating from Gordon, Davis received scholarship offers from Florida State, Furman, Memphis and Miami, but chose ASU because of Coach Taylor. 

Davis received a commission of Second Lieutenant in field artillery from ASU, and following his collegiate career, he had a distinguished military career, achieving the rank of Colonel. He served in Vietnam as an operations officer of artillery battalion and district senior advisor to the Vietnamese from 1968-73. 

Returning to ASU in 1978, Davis served as a professor of military science and the senior Army advisor to the Arkansas National Guard. Col. Davis was awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star for Valor, Legion of Merit awards and was selected to the ASU ROTC Hall of Heroes in 1995.