After completing his military service, Davis also played professionally for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL) in 1950 and 1951.

[1][2] In 1942, Davis led the Bearcats to an 11–0 record and the school's first-ever football championship, earning the Southern Section Player of the Year award.

The brothers were close and had originally planned to attend USC in Los Angeles, but when their U.S. Representative agreed to sponsor them with appointments to West Point, they decided to go there.

At West Point, under coach Earl Blaik, Davis played fullback in his freshman season.

(The record was broken by USC backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White, who had 99 career touchdowns.)

In 2007, Davis was ranked #13 on ESPN's list of Top 25 Players in College Football History.

He was offered a contract and $75,000 signing bonus by the Brooklyn Dodgers, but declined, as he was required to serve in the Army and would be a relatively old rookie after that.

[8][9] Davis was also denied extended furloughs or other accommodations that might allow him to play football while serving in the Army.

Davis (and Blanchard) did earn $25,000 each by appearing in the low-budget movie The Spirit of West Point (about their football careers).

[17] Davis moved to Texas to work in the oil industry, but returned to California a few years later.

Davis was survived by his wife Yvonne, his son, Ralph, and a stepson, John Slack III.

[23] Davis died of prostate cancer at La Quinta, California, at age 80 on March 9, 2005.