Larnard "Lon" Mann collection

Lon Mann was an athletic trainer at Purdue. He became a member of the staff in 1923. He attended the University of Chicago for a year and from 1899 to 1916 was an assistant trainer in all sports for the Maroons. His success with the Maroons led to his selection as a trainer for the White Sox in 1906, when the Hitless Wonders won the world series from the Cubs.

Later he was trainer at Penn State where he worked with Hugo Bezdek in the development of the eleven that won the eastern conference title in 1921.

Lon Mann was one of the pioneers in the field of athletic training. He served for 24 years as athletic trainer for Purdue athletic squads being appointed July 15, 1923 and retired June 30, 1947. At Purdue he did much of the ground work on the facemasks used even yet today, helped develop many of the taping methods still in use at present and developed a knee brace like those used today. In addition to his duties as athletic trainer, Lon was equipment manager and did most of his own repairs in the early days of his career at Purdue.

Mann died in June 1956 at Battlesworth, Alabama, where he made his home after retiring.