A Chicago native and a product of Fenwick High School, Johnny Lattner was leaning toward Michigan as his college choice in 1950 until a campus visit to Notre Dame changed his mind. He decided to play for Irish coach Frank Leahy, and he became a standout halfback for the Irish, scoring 20 touchdowns and accumulating 3,095 all-purpose yards in three varsity seasons.

In 1953, Leahy’s last as Notre Dame coach, an outstanding backfield nearly won what would have been his fifth national championship, finishing second in the polling at 9-0-1. The Irish were led by Lattner, who had finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting as a junior in 1952. 

In 1953, Lattner rushed for 651 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and scored nine touchdowns, caught 14 passes for 204 yards, had four interceptions and two touchdowns on 10 kickoff returns. Lattner was honored for his season with the Heisman Trophy, edging out Minnesota’s Paul Giel in one of the closest Heisman ballots. He became Notre Dame’s fourth Heisman winner, joining Angelo Bertelli (1943), Johnny Lujack (1947), and Leon Hart (1949).

After a brief NFL career, Lattner became a Chicago restaurateur and businessman. Staying close to his roots, he made his Heisman Trophy available to numerous local charities for fundraising purposes. “People are fascinated by it,” said Lattner. “They want to touch it, have their picture taken with it.”

Lending the Heisman out for charitable causes was a way to express gratitude, he said. “Getting a scholarship to Notre Dame, raising my family, doing OK in business—I’ve had a lot of good things happen to me,” Lattner said. “Winning the Heisman is definitely one of them.”

Lattner died on February 12, 2016.