Elmer Busch

Elmer Eugene "Pete" Busch (June 1, 1889 – January 14, 1949) was an American professional football player with the Oorang Indians of the National Football League (NFL) in 1922. He was a Native American member of the Pomo tribe. He played his college football at the Carlisle Indian School. In 1973, Busch was inducted into the American Indian Hall of Fame.

Early life and family Busch was born in 1890 to Jack and Maggie Busch, who lived in Potter Valley, California. He was elected in 1913 as the team's captain for 1914. However, he lost the title to Pete Calac after he was forced to resign. After leaving the Carlisle School in April 1915 at age 25, he worked in the boiler department of the Santa Fe Railroad in San Bernardino from 1915 to 1917. He also coached football at Riverside from 1916 to 1917.

Professional athletic career He was a football coach at his alma mater, the Sherman Institute at Riverside (1916–17).

Busch played the 1922 NFL season with the Oorang Indians, a team composed completely of Native Americans. It was the idea of Walter Lingo, an Airedale breeder from LaRue, Ohio, with the sole intention of promoting his kennel. Busch left the team after the 1922 season.

Career outside athletics

Busch worked in San Bernardino, California, in the boiler department of the AT & SF Railroad (1915–1917).