23 May 2005
Both are Graduates of Woodrow Wilson High School
DALLAS—The Dallas Independent School District held a groundbreaking ceremony today, May 23, for the Davey O'Brien and Tim Brown track at Woodrow Wilson High School, 100 South Glasgow Drive.
O'Brien and Brown, graduates of Woodrow Wilson High School, excelled in high school, collegiate, and professional football.
O'Brien, upon graduation from high school, enrolled at Texas Christian University in 1935. Standing at only five-foot-seven and 150 pounds, as quarterback, he led TCU to an undefeated season and the national championship in 1938. He was named All-Conference in 1937 and 1938 and also named to 13 All-American teams and became the only college football player to win the Heisman, Maxwell, and Walter Camp trophies in the same year, 1938.
The Heisman trophy indicates colleges' most outstanding player; the Maxwell Award indicates the collegiate player of the year, and the Walter Camp trophy indicates the selection as an All-American college football player.
O'Brien went on to play professionally with the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons until he retired in 1940. He was named to the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 1955 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1956.
Brown graduated from high school in 1984 and enrolled at the University of Notre Dame. In 1987, while at Notre Dame, he became a Consensus All-American, won the Heisman trophy and the DISD to Host Davey O'Brien and Tim Brown Track Groundbreaking Walter Camp trophy all in the same year as a wide receiver and punt returner. He was a first-round draft pick in 1987 and is beginning his 19th year in the National Football League. Brown spent 18 of those years with the Los Angeles Raiders and the Oakland Raiders respectively. He is currently playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has been selected to the Pro-Bowl eight times.
Of the top 100 college players of all time, O'Brien is considered #71 and Brown is considered #64.
The track will be managed by Gallagher Construction Services and built by Track Masters, Inc. Shrickel, Rollins and Associates designed it.