Mel Hein

Birth Name: Melvin Jack Hein

Date of Birth: August 22, 1909

Place of Birth: Redding, California, U.S.

Date of Death: January 31, 1992

Place of Death: San Clemente, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: German, English

Mel Hein was an American professional football player, and coach. A center and linebacker, he played for fifteen seasons with the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He was head coach of Union (NY), head coach & assistant coach of the Los Angeles Dons, for whom he was also simply assistant coach; and assistant coach for the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Rams, and USC. He was nicknamed “Old Indestructible.”

Mel was the son of Charolette E. (Wilson) and Herman Homer Hein. He was married to Florence Emma Porter, with whom he had two children. Their son, Mel Hein, Jr., once held the U.S. indoor pole vault record.

Mel’s paternal grandfather was named Marcus J. Hein. Marcus was German.

Mel’s paternal grandmother was Alice C. Nichols (the daughter of Dawson Nichols and Elizabeth Chandler). Dawson was the son of Peter Nichols.

Source: Genealogy of Mel Hein (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com