[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.
[8] Elder was the maternal grandfather of NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia.