William E. "Pinky" Newell papers

William E. Newell, ATC, PT (June 22, 1920 - October 13, 1984) was born in Enid, Oklahoma, and he grew up in Stafford, Kansas. After accepting a football scholarship to Purdue University, he played center for the Boilermakers from 1941 to 1943. He earned the nickname "Pinky", while playing for Purdue. There was a big tackle on Purdue team who played next to Pinky on defense. He also had red hair and also was called Pinky. There was Big Pink and Little Pink. Newell was Little Pink.

William E. Newell graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education. His senior year, Newell's advisers urged him to go to medical school. He ignored them and joined the U.S. Marine Corps instead. Lt. Newell was part of the 29th Marines, 6th Division, that helped take Okinawa in 1945. He was discharged in 1946, and he enrolled in the physical therapy program at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California in 1947.

Re-joining Purdue athletics in 1949, Newell served as Head Athletic Trainer and Assistant Professor in Physical Education, teaching athletic training classes. Newell was the Purdue athletic trainer from 1949 to 1976.

He was a founding father of the National Athletic Trainers Association and was a leader in the development of formal educational programs in athletic training. His foresight and commitment to the profession and to Purdue student-athletes places Purdue among the leaders in the care of athletes and the education of athletic trainers. William E. "Pinky" Newell career was filled with many accomplishments including Athletic Trainer for the College All-Star Game sponsored by the Chicago Tribune in 1953, 1954, and 1957.

Internationally he was an athletic trainer for the 1963 Pan American Team in Brazil, and he served as an athletic trainer for the U. S. Olympic Team in 1980 at Lake Placid, as well as the Summer Olympic Games in Montreal.