| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 21, 1916 Wellington, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | August 14, 2011 (aged 95) Gilroy, California, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1934–1936 | Kansas State |
| 1938–1940 | Los Angeles Bulldogs |
| Position(s) | Fullback, halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1941–1942 | Colorado A&M (assistant) |
| 1946 | Colorado A&M (assistant) |
| 1947 | Fort Lewis |
| 1948–1951 | Pueblo |
| 1957–? | Gilory HS (CA) |
| Baseball | |
| 1947 | Colorado A&M |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 3–8 (college baseball) 18–26–2 (junior college football) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| First-team All-Big Six (1936) Second-team All-Big Six (1934) | |
Maurice "'Red" Elder (March 21, 1916 – August 14, 2011) was an American college football and college baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at Fort Lewis College in 1947 and Pueblo Junior College—now known as Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo)—from 1948 to 1951. Elder was also the head baseball coach at Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts—now known as Colorado State University—for one season, in 1947.
Elder was a fullback at Kansas State University in the mid–1930s, where he played on the conference champion 1934 Kansas State Wildcats football team. He played in the East–West Shrine Bowl on January 1, 1937.[1][2] Elder was selected by the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL) in third round of the 1937 NFL draft with the 26th overall pick.[3] He played professionally with the Los Angeles Bulldogs from 1938 to 1940. In 1941, Elder was hired by Colorado State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts—now known as an assistant football coach under head coach Harry W. Hughes.[4]
Elder served in the United States Navy during World War II, from June 1943 until April 1946. After returning from the war, he resumed his role as assistant football coach at Colorado A&M in 1946.[5] In May 1947, Elder was appointed head football coach and physical director at the Fort Lewis Branch of Colorado A&M—now known as Fort Lewis College.[6] The following year, he moved on to Pueblo Junior College—now known as Colorado State University Pueblo—as head football coach.[7]
In 1957, Elder was hired as the head football coach at Gilroy High School in Gilroy, California.[8]
Elder was the maternal grandfather of NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia. He died on August 14, 2011, of a heart attack.[9]
- ^ "Elder Goes West". The Wichita Sunday Eagle. Wichita, Kansas. Associated Press. December 13, 1936. p. 12. Retrieved February 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com
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- ^ "Frye Active In East-West Game". Columbia Missourian. Columbia, Missouri. January 2, 1937. p. 6. Retrieved February 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "1937 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
- ^ "Red Elder To Coach Aggies". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Associated Press. April 11, 1941. p. 12. Retrieved February 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Klipple, Joe (September 15, 1946). "Rams Coaches Push Squad Hard As Saturday Grid Opener Nears". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Fort Collins, Colorado. p. 11. Retrieved February 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Elder, Bergman Go to Fort Lewis". Fort Collins Coloradoan. Fort Collins, Colorado. May 15, 1947. p. 12. Retrieved February 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Mesa Clashes With Pueblo At 8 O'Clock". The Daily Sentinel. Grand Junction, Colorado. October 1, 1948. p. 12. Retrieved February 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "New Gilroy Coach". Free Lance. Hollister, California. June 10, 1957. p. 6. Retrieved February 11, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Powell, Mark (August 17, 2011). "'Always positive' Maurice 'Red' Elder dies at age 95". The Morgan Hill Times. Morgan Hill, California. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
