Remembering Steve Davis: Pride of Sallisaw, legendary University of Oklahoma quarterback

The pride of Sallisaw, Steve Davis grew up dreaming of one thing. Becoming the quarterback at the University of Oklahoma.

When Davis walked on to campus in 1971, OU had eight quarterbacks on its roster. Several had bigger arms.  Several more had better speed.

But four years later, it was Davis who left Norman as the winningest quarterback in Sooners' football history -- a title he held for decades.

Running OU's vaunted wishbone attack, Davis always seemed to make the right decisions. He started 34 games for OU, walked off the field a winner 32 times. One loss. One tie. Two national championships.

PHOTO GALLERY - Pictures from the scene and of Davis (http://bit.ly/XUxJez)

After his playing career, Davis transitioned into broadcasting, spending 18 years as a college football analyst for CBS.

While still quarterbacking the Sooners, Davis became an ordained Baptist minister. For the rest of his life he openly shared his faith.

Last fall, after an OU loss to Kansas State, Sooners QB Landry Jones was widely criticized by OU fans. Davis sent Jones a handwritten note of encouragement. Two weeks later, Jones surpassed Davis as the Sooners' all-time winningest quarterback.

Davis was 60 years old.

RELATED LINK: Coroner: Ex-University of Oklahoma quarterback Steve Davis died in Indiana plane crash (http://bit.ly/WxuJoB)

Davis died Sunday, March 17 when the private jet on which he and three other people were aboard crashed into a neighborhood near the South Bend Regional Airport. 

"He was a friend to everyone," said cousin Margaret Perry. " ... A great Christian guy. He was a great example of what you'd want your child to be."

Wes Caves, a Tulsa businessman to whom the plane was registered, was also killed. 

The other two people aboard and a third person on the ground suffered non-life-threatening injuries.