Chattanooga native Joe Steffy was considered the best offensive lineman to ever play at West Point, opening holes for the legendary Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis. Before transferring to West Point in 1945, Steffy played one year as a guard on John Barnhill’s 1944 University of Tennessee Rose Bowl team. In his three years playing for Army Coach “Red” Blaik, Steffy led his team to an overall 23-2-3 record. In his final season, he was team captain, an All-American selection, and recipient of the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best lineman. Following a tour of duty in Korea, where he earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, Steffy returned to West Point in 1952. He coached football at the academy until 1955 before retiring to private business in Newburgh, New York. Joe Steffy was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1987. His accomplishments on the gridiron, in the service of his country, and as a successful business and civic leader have brought honor to his native state of Tennessee.
