Elston was born in Texas in 1918 and attended Morrison R. Waite High School in Toledo, Ohio.

He played college football at South Carolina.

[1] He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

[1] After his playing career ended, Elston coached high school football in San Francisco.

[2][3] He was also the head football coach at City College of San Francisco (CCSF) from 1962 to 1976.