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He was at one time the unofficial worlds fastest. Here is the article...For the second time in less than two weeks a legendary figure of the Hartnell College athletic program passed away.
Last Friday night Harold "Hal'' Davis, who once held the title "World's Fastest Human'' while running for the Hartnell College track team, died at age 86 in Lakeport County.
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One of the shoes worn by Davis is cast in bronze and is hanging in a glass-enclosed case near the Hartnell basketball gym entrance.
Earlier this month Ed Brown, who out-played Frank Gifford in a memorable 1948 football game between Hartnell and Bakersfield junior colleges, died at age 78 of prostate cancer in Kennewick, Wash.
Davis died about four days after losing consciousness due to a blood clot, according to his grandson, Aaron Bragg.
Davis tied Jesse Owens' world 100-meters record of 10.2 seconds on June 6, 1941 while a student at Salinas Junior College.
The name of the school was changed in 1948 to Hartnell College.
Davis, who lived in Morgan Hill while attending Hartnell, used to drive the college bus between Morgan Hill and Salinas.
After transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, Brown won national titles in the 100 and 200 yard sprints in 1942 and 1943.
Davis, who held the "World's Fastest Human'' title from 1941-43 after winning just about every major sprint title during that period, was a member of the original National Track and Field Hall of Fame, a class that included Jesse Owens.
Brown, meanwhile, began his climb to fame as a quarterback for Hartnell College in 1948.
He guided the Panthers to an 8-2 record (at the time the most single-season victories in school history), highlighted by a major triumph over Bakersfield and its highly-touted quarterback Frank Gifford.
At the time Gifford was considered the No. 1 freshman quarterback in the country and playing for a defending conference champion with 14 returning lettermen.
Brown, who arrived at Hartnell from San Luis Obispo, threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as Hartnell stunned Bakersfield, 36-6.
Gifford, meanwhile, was 13 for 37 and was intercepted five times.
Brown then went on to lead the University of San Francisco football team to an undefeated season in 1951 - a team that included eventual NFL Hall of Famers Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson and Bob St. Clair.
Brown played 12 years in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Colts.
During his career he passed for nearly 16,000 yards and 102 touchdowns while rushing for 960 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Last Friday night Harold "Hal'' Davis, who once held the title "World's Fastest Human'' while running for the Hartnell College track team, died at age 86 in Lakeport County.
ADVERTISEMENT
One of the shoes worn by Davis is cast in bronze and is hanging in a glass-enclosed case near the Hartnell basketball gym entrance.
Earlier this month Ed Brown, who out-played Frank Gifford in a memorable 1948 football game between Hartnell and Bakersfield junior colleges, died at age 78 of prostate cancer in Kennewick, Wash.
Davis died about four days after losing consciousness due to a blood clot, according to his grandson, Aaron Bragg.
Davis tied Jesse Owens' world 100-meters record of 10.2 seconds on June 6, 1941 while a student at Salinas Junior College.
The name of the school was changed in 1948 to Hartnell College.
Davis, who lived in Morgan Hill while attending Hartnell, used to drive the college bus between Morgan Hill and Salinas.
After transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, Brown won national titles in the 100 and 200 yard sprints in 1942 and 1943.
Davis, who held the "World's Fastest Human'' title from 1941-43 after winning just about every major sprint title during that period, was a member of the original National Track and Field Hall of Fame, a class that included Jesse Owens.
Brown, meanwhile, began his climb to fame as a quarterback for Hartnell College in 1948.
He guided the Panthers to an 8-2 record (at the time the most single-season victories in school history), highlighted by a major triumph over Bakersfield and its highly-touted quarterback Frank Gifford.
At the time Gifford was considered the No. 1 freshman quarterback in the country and playing for a defending conference champion with 14 returning lettermen.
Brown, who arrived at Hartnell from San Luis Obispo, threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as Hartnell stunned Bakersfield, 36-6.
Gifford, meanwhile, was 13 for 37 and was intercepted five times.
Brown then went on to lead the University of San Francisco football team to an undefeated season in 1951 - a team that included eventual NFL Hall of Famers Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson and Bob St. Clair.
Brown played 12 years in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Colts.
During his career he passed for nearly 16,000 yards and 102 touchdowns while rushing for 960 yards and 14 touchdowns.