Davey O’Brien’s longtime friend and business partner, Charles Ringler, believed that the accomplishments and commitment of one of Fort Worth’s finest sports heroes deserved to be honored and remembered. In November 1977, just before O’Brien passed away from cancer, Ringler and other members of The Fort Worth Club established the Davey O’Brien Foundation and the O’Brien Memorial Trophy.

The O’Brien Memorial Trophy was to be presented annually to the most outstanding player in the Southwest Conference. Four years later the award was expanded nationally in scope and limited to quarterback, the primary position of the namesake. The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (The O'Brien) is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious award for college quarterbacks.

The Foundation’s goal is not only to honor the nation’s best college quarterback, but to inspire student-athletes to triumph both on and off the field.

Over the years, the Foundation has created three additional awards to complement the O’Brien Quarterback Award: the Davey O'Brien High School Scholarship Award, the Davey O'Brien Legends Award and the Charles Ringler Founder’s Award.

The Foundation recognizes athletes who have transformed leadership on the field into leadership in life, and, in the spirit of O’Brien’s enduring character and leadership, aims to instill a lifelong strong moral fiber in each of them.

The Davey O’Brien Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in downtown Fort Worth. The Foundation’s programs are administered by a volunteer Board of Trustees and daily operations are handled by executive director, Danielle Moorman.

Previous Page