In 1935, The Downtown Athletic Club presented the inaugural Heisman Trophy to University of Chicago halfback Jay Berwanger.

Jay Berwanger won the first Heisman Trophy in 1935. In 23 games for the Maroons, Chicago's "one-man gang" gained more than a mile from scrimmage - net yardage of 1,839. He completed 50 of 146 passes for 921 yards, scored 22 touchdowns and booted 20 extra points for a total of 152 points. He averaged 46.3 yards on 34 kickoffs and 38 yards on 233 punts.

The List
Jay Berwanger lists some of the Heisman winners that he admires.

Larry Kelley - 1936, Yale
Larry Kelley was a good friend and was very active in the Heisman alumni. After college and before the war, we played against each other in rugby.

Clint Frank - 1937, Yale
Clint was a great player. He was from Chicago, so I got to see him regularly.

Angelo Bertelli - 1943, Notre Dame
Angelo was a good friend. I liked all the Notre Dame boys.

Doak Walker - 1948, SMU
Doak was a tremendous guy and a good friend..

Glenn Davis - 1946, Army
Glenn Davis is someone you have to respect.

Favorite Heisman season memory
In our last game, we played Illinois and won 7-6. I ran a punt back to the 1-yard line. Then I dove over for a touchdown and kicked the extra point. The headline in the Chicago Tribune read: Berwanger 7 Illinois 6.

Heisman presentation memory
I received the wire about winning the Heisman Trophy back at the frat house. The most exciting thing at the time was the two plane tickets to New York. I had never been in a plane. There would be other trophies, I thought, but this would be my first plane ride.