Clarksdale’s Art Davis became the newest inductee into the Mississippi State University Bulldogs' "Ring of Honor" in a ceremony held Saturday during MSU’s game against Arkansas in Davis Wade Stadium.
Davis, who was inducted along with MSU legend Walt Harris, became the eighth and ninth MSU legends enshrined in the "Ring of Honor" respectively, joining Johnie Cooks, Jack Cristil, Joe Fortunato, Kent Hull, D.D. Lewis, Tom "Shorty" McWilliams and Jackie Parker. Fortunato was inducted last October.
Davis, a Clarksdale native, etched his name into MSU and Southeastern Conference lore as an elite two-way player from 1952-55. Davis starred as a two-time All-SEC halfback and defensive back for the Bulldogs, racking up 1,148 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns and averaging 4.8 yards per play for his career.
In 1954, Davis was recognized as the SEC's Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and Nashville Banner, in addition to receiving All-SEC accolades. That season, he led the Bulldogs with 670 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, including four in State's 25-0 victory at LSU. He produced three rushing scores and returned an interception for a touchdown in the win against the Tigers.
As a senior in 1955, Davis was tabbed National Player of the Year and All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. Following his co-captain season, he was selected to play in the 1955 Blue-Gray Game and the 1956 Senior Bowl. He was the first round draft choice and the fifth overall pick of the 1956 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Davis, whose NFL career was cut short due to a knee injury, was inducted into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame in 1971 and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.
Davis attended Clarksdale High School. He received a football scholarship to Mississippi State after missing his entire senior high school football season breaking his leg in the first game. He was voted "Best Athlete" and "Mr. CHS" at Clarksdale High School. His nickname growing up was "Honeybee," which was given to him by a nurse when he was a young boy.
After professional football, Davis started his coaching career at Biloxi High School in 1957. He then became an assistant coach at LSU under Coach Paul Dietzel in 1959 and 1960, and was the freshman coach at Georgia Tech under Coach Bobby Dodd in 1961 and 1962. Davis was hired as the defensive backfield coach at the University of Texas in 1963, and in that season under Coach Darrell Royal, the Longhorns won the national championship and then beat Navy, 28–6, in the 1964 Cotton Bowl.
He retired from college coaching after that season to pursue business opportunities in Mississippi and spend more time with his family. Later in life, Davis coached at Lee Academy in Clarksdale and Central Catholic High School in Portland, Ore.
Davis was married to the former Frances Habig of Jackson for 58 years until her death in 2014. He has two children, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Art's son, Doug, played tennis at Mississippi State in the early 1980s, and his grandson, Brad Jones, played first base and was team captain for the Bulldog baseball team in the early 2000s.
The Davises are relatives of the Ganong Bros. candy-making family based in St. Stephen New Brunswick, Canada. Art has lived in Wilsonville and Lake Oswego, Ore., since 2001 and was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2017. He spends much of his time watercolor painting and exercising.
Harris, one of the most prolific cornerbacks in SEC history, started 24 straight games for MSU from 1992-95 and set the school record for career interceptions with 16. The LaGrange, Ga., native earned All-SEC honors in his final three seasons in Starkville.
Harris became the first NFL first-round draft choice for MSU in 13 years when he was selected 13th overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1996 NFL Draft. He played 13 NFL seasons, including six seasons with the Bears. In 2006 as a San Francisco 49er, he led the squad in interceptions with a career-best eight. Harris was inducted into the MSU Sports Hall of Fame in November 2017.
