The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-07
|O'Brien'S Mother.
 "StealS the Show" At Sons Party.
BY JACK CUDDY
United Press Staff Correspondent

\OIAtCu AACoc OOaA NVAASSPVAAoJ
 New York, Dec. 7-All New York was talking about Texas Christian universitys "12th player" today as Quarterback Davey O'Brien, poses sor of footballs most coveted award, flew back to the Fort Worth school with his entourage.
 That 18th player-little Davey's mother-stole the show completely last night at the Downtown Attn letic club during the ceremonial presentation of the Heisman memor- ial trophy to her diminutive son. who had been chosen the nations outstanding college grid performer for 1888.
 More than 700 spectators, jammed into the clubs bunting-festooned gymnasium, got that old feeling in their throats and bit of dew in their eyes as Mrs. Ella Mae Keith O'Brien thanked the sports writers of America for discovering at last a truth she had long known. She said:
 "To his mother, Davey has al- ways been an all-American boy"
 Mother His Idol
 As she talked, those who had come to honor the great passer, car- rier and field general, found them selves paying tribute to Davey's in- spiration. They realized then why the Little Giant"-who weighs only 150 pounds and stretches to mak, five-foot-seven-had rocketed t fame in the most bruising gamt beef and brawn often count nor; than brains. And why the "sling. shot" kid had been able to fade back, with big men laundering down on him, and fling 19 touch down passes this season; how he had been able to spark-plug the horned forces" to victory in every game-and on to the Sugar bow contest with Carnegie Tech.
 The chipped little gray-haired woman in the purple gown adorned with an orchid corsage, is an ultra modern mother but she gave of old-fashioned sentiment, there be- fore the mike.
 She said, "at first I was afraid that Davey might be hurt, because he is so small, compared to the oth- CT plawers. But gradually I came to realize that defeat hurt my boy more than any physical injury. Af- ter that I concentrated on the score And the scores have been fine this season. I know how grand they are because I played every minute with Davey. And everything has turned out just perfect for my little boy
 Hard Task
 When Mother 'O'Brien said this some of the men from Texas, in their big sombreros, felt like blub- bering because they knew how the little woman from Dallas, in the Prince-nez spectacles, had made things turn out right, after the estrangement rom her husband years ago, how her courage ano energy had kept her and her Da- vey marching downf1eld, how hel determination and intelligence haC made a success of her private school of public speaking down in Dallas
 Other speakers on the program in- cluded Anon Carter, publisher oi the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Lieut.. Governor Walter Woodun oi Texas; Elf M. Waits, president oi Texasi Christian university; L. R Dutch" Meyer, the T.C.U. coach Jim Farley, postmaster general Capt. Bill Wood, Army coach; Wal ter P. Holcombe, president of th' Downtown Athletic A. C., and sev' eral nationally known sports writ. CTS.
 Little Davey OBrien spoke also The lad with the hazel-nut hair close set eyes, straight nose ant large mouth, seemed even smalle than his mother as he faced tn mike. He thanked the sports writ CTS, his teammates, his coach, ant most of all the little lady on m. 1nft v