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ART DONOVAN
All Pro Defensive Tackle, one of the "Gentle Giants" of football, Art Donovan is the archetype of the old pro lineman - feared on the field, yet admired everywhere else for his generous and outgoing personality.
Donovan, born in the Bronx, attended Mt. Saint Michael High School then served with the Marines in World War II in the Pacific and afterwards attended Boston College and graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Donavan joined the Baltimore Colts of the NFL in 1950. Moving to the New York Yanks of the NFL in 1951, Donovan followed the franchise as it became the Dallas Texans in 1952, then returned to Baltimore when the same franchise became the new Baltimore Colts in 1953. From 1950 to 1962, he was an outstanding defensive tackle, was chosen to play in five (5) Pro Games, including their two (2) World Championship years 1958 and 1959.
The Colts retired Art Donovan's uniform, Number 70, when he departed from professional football in 1960. In 1968, he was paid the greatest tribute by being placed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His father, Arthur Donovan, Sr. was the famous boxing referee who refereed more championship fights than anyone else, including most of Joe Louis's fights.
Grandfather, Mike O'Donovan, was the world middleweight boxing champion. For a span of 100 years, Donovan's father and grandfather held the position of boxing instructor at the New York Athletic Club.
At present, Art Donovan resides in Baltimore and is the owner/manager of the Valley Country Club. As a celebrity, Donovan is an unusual mixture of talents--an encyclopedic knowledge of football (past & present), and an unmatched memory for illustrative anecdotes, combined with a great natural sense of humor and a talent for story-telling. He retains a Bronx inflection with an overlay of Baltimorese, but is very well spoken in a warmly conversational style. Donovan's unique, powerful personality sparkles on camera.
Donovan speaks about the game lovingly, remembered by those who lived it.
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