Early Life
Elliott was born in Detroit, but grew up in Bloomington, Illinois. His father, Dr. J. Norman Elliott, was an ears, nose and throat doctor who also coached football at Illinois Wesleyan University from 1930–1934. Elliott's given name is Chalmers, but he has been known by the nickname "Bump" since he was six months old, though nobody remembers how he got the nickname, "not even his mother."
Elliott and his younger brother, Pete Elliott, both played football together for Bloomington High School, where Bump was an All-State halfback in 1942, and Pete made it as a fullback in 1943. Had it not been for World War II, Bump and Pete likely would have attended the University of Illinois, which was about 50 miles from their home in Bloomington. However, both brothers wanted to get into the V-12 Navy College Training Program, and Illinois did not have such a program. Bump enlisted in the United States Marine Corps while still a senior in high school and was called to active duty in 1943. He was assigned to the V-12 officer training program at Purdue University. His brother, Pete, also enlisted and was assigned to officer training at Michigan.
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