Doc Young

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Alva "Doc" Young

No. None
Born:	(1881-12-18)December 18, 1881 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)	Owner, Head coach
College	University of Indianapolis New York University
Career history
As coach
1925–1926	Hammond Pros
As owner
1920–1926	Hammond Pros
Career highlights and awards
National Football League co-founder Coaching record: 1–7
Career stats
Coaching stats at Pro Football Reference
Military career
Allegiance	U.S. Army Medical Corps
Battles/wars	World War I

Alvah (Alva) Andrew "Doc" Young (December 18, 1881 – August 9, 1942) was a founder of the

. He was also a respected medical doctor and sports trainer.

Early career

Young was born December 18, 1881, in

San Antonio, Texas

.

Sports

Young played

matches in Hammond. His greatest love was horse racing; Doc owned a stable of horses and spent several years making the circuit of the leading race tracks. He founded a company called A.A. Young Laboratories that developed a vitamin-calcium supplement for thoroughbreds called Min-O-Lac (Minerals of Milk).

Doc became a supporter of professional football in Indiana. He served as team doctor and trainer for the Hammond Clabby Athletic Club during the 1915–17 period. In 1919, promoter

. It is likely that Dr. Young was a part owner of the franchise.

In 1919 the Pros lost many of their high-priced players. Many of these players later appeared for the Chicago Tigers. This caused Young to field a new team, but one with fewer stars.

Forming the NFL

On September 17, 1920, Dr. Young represented Hammond at a meeting of the nation's leading pro football team managers held in Canton, Ohio, for the purpose of creating the American Professional Football Association (later known as the National Football League in 1922). Dr. Young's Hammond Pros were charter members of the organization and played in the league from 1920–26. They played three league opponents in 1920 and lost all three games by big scores.

In addition to games, Doc attended the league meetings. In Green Bay, Young got into an argument with

was watermelon-shaped and perfect for drop kicks. However Lambeau wanted to use a thinner ball better-suited for passing, probably since he was the top passer of his day.

Race and the NFL

In the 1940s,

appeared with the team during its years in the league.

End of Pros

After

while working late, attending a sick horse in the summer of 1942.

References

• Ross, Charles (1997). Race and Sport.
  ISBN 978-1-57806-897-5
  .
• Carroll, John M. (1992). Fritz Pollard: Pioneer in Racial Advancement.
  ISBN 0-252-06799-1
  .
• Carroll, Bob (1995). "Doc Yound and the Hammond Pros" (PDF). Coffin Corner. 17 (1). Professional Football Researchers Association: 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-10-07.