Dayton Honors Gopher Football Legend Bruce Smith
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Gov. Mark Dayton has proclaimed "Bruce Smith Day" in Minnesota in honor of a one-time Heisman Trophy winner who will be celebrated at the University of Minnesota at Saturday's home football game.
Bruce "Boo" Smith was born in Faribault in 1920, and played halfback for the University of Minnesota. He led the team to back-to-back national championships in 1940 and 1941.
He received his Heisman Trophy two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and went on to serve as a Navy fighter pilot in World War II.
Smith returned to play for the National Football League. He died of cancer in 1967, and in 1977 the Gophers retired his number 54 -- the first Gopher player ever to get that honor.
At Saturday's game, the Gophers will celebrate the 70th anniversary of Smith's Heisman win.
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