Art Donovan facts for kids
Donovan in 1960
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| No. 49, 39, 70 | |
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| Position: | Defensive tackle |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | June 5, 1924 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Died: | August 4, 2013 (aged 89) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 263 lb (119 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Mount Saint Michael Academy (The Bronx, New York) |
| College: | Boston College |
| NFL Draft: | 1947 / Round: 22 / Pick: 204 Redrafted 1951, 4th round, 50th pick after termination of Colts franchise. |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 U.S. Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War II
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| Player stats at PFR | |
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Arthur James "Fatso" Donovan Jr. (born June 5, 1924 – died August 4, 2013) was a famous American football player. He played as a defensive tackle for several teams in the National Football League (NFL), especially the Baltimore Colts. He also played college football for the Boston College Eagles. Art Donovan was so good that he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
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Early Life and Military Service
Art Donovan was born on June 5, 1924. His father, Arthur Donovan Sr., was a boxing referee. His grandfather, Professor Mike Donovan, was a world middleweight boxing champion in the 1870s. So, sports ran in his family!
Art went to Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx, New York. In 1942, he received a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame. However, World War II had just started. Art decided to leave college after one semester to join the United States Marine Corps in April 1943.
He served in the Marines for four years. He fought in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. He was part of some very tough battles, like the Battle of Luzon and the Battle of Iwo Jima. He also worked on an aircraft carrier, the USS San Jacinto.
Art received special awards for his service, including the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. Later, he became the first professional football player to be honored in the U.S. Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame. After the war, he finished his college studies at Boston College.
Professional Football Career
Art Donovan's first few years in professional football were a bit bumpy. In his first three seasons, each team he played for ended up going out of business! He started with the first Baltimore Colts in 1950, but that team folded.
Players from the old Colts team were then spread out to other teams. Art was picked by the Cleveland Browns in the 1951 NFL draft. However, he was soon traded to the New York Yanks. He played for the Yanks in 1951. The next year, in 1952, he played for their new team, the Dallas Texans.
When the Texans team also folded, many of their players, including Art, moved to Baltimore. The city got a new team in 1953, which became the second Baltimore Colts. This is where Art Donovan truly shined! He became a star player on their defense.
He was chosen for the Pro Bowl five times in a row, from 1953 to 1957. The Colts won two NFL championships back-to-back in 1958 and 1959. Because of his amazing career, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
One of the most famous games Art played in was the 1958 NFL Championship Game. Many people call it "the greatest game ever played." It was between the Colts and the New York Giants on December 28, 1958. The game ended in a 17–17 tie. This was the first NFL championship game to go into overtime! Millions of people watched it on TV. During overtime, Art made an important tackle that stopped the Giants. This allowed his teammate, Johnny Unitas, to lead the Colts to victory. Art Donovan was one of 12 Hall of Fame players who played in that historic game.
Life After Playing Football
After retiring from football, Art Donovan wrote a book about his life called Fatso in 1987. He was known for being a funny and cheerful person. He used his humor to appear on TV shows and give speeches.
He appeared ten times on Late Night with David Letterman. He would tell funny stories about his football days and the players he knew. He even told a story about playing without a helmet! The TV host, David Letterman, once wore Art's old No. 70 Colts jersey in a famous Super Bowl commercial. Art also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Art Donovan also made a guest appearance on the Nickelodeon show The Adventures of Pete & Pete. He was also a guest commentator for a wrestling event, the WWF King of the Ring tournament in 1994. People remember his wrestling commentary because he seemed a bit confused, which made it even funnier!
He co-hosted a popular TV show in Baltimore in the 1990s called Braase, Donovan, Davis and Fans. He also appeared in commercials for the Maryland State Lottery and ESPN.
Achievements
- Played 12 seasons and 138 games in the NFL.
- Selected for the Pro Bowl five times in a row (1953–1957).
- Chosen as a first-team All-Pro four times in a row (1954–1957).
- Was the first player from the Colts to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1968).
- Member of the Baltimore Colts teams that won the NFL championships in 1958 and 1959.
- Began his NFL career with Baltimore as a 26-year-old rookie in 1950.
- Co-hosted the WWF's 1994 King of the Ring event.
- Inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Personal Life
Art Donovan was married to Dorothy Schaech for 57 years. Since 1955, they owned and managed the Valley Country Club in Towson, Maryland. Even though he was the owner, Art was known for doing hands-on work at the club. He would paint and even wash pots and pans in the kitchen!
Death and Legacy
Art Donovan passed away on August 4, 2013, at the age of 89. He died from a respiratory disease in Baltimore. A funeral service was held for him in Baltimore, and he was buried in a private ceremony. The Washington Post newspaper said great things about him, remembering him as a beloved figure.
