Joseph Mason "Bull" Reeves (November 20, 1872 – March 25, 1948) was an admiral in the United States Navy and an early and important supporter of U.S. Naval Aviation. Though a battleship officer during his early career, he became known as the "Father of Carrier Aviation" for his role in integrating aircraft carriers into the fleet as a major part of the Navy's attack capabilities. Reeves retired in the mid-1930s but was recalled to active duty during World War II to serve in high-level staff positions within the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. He retired again in December 1946 with the rank of full admiral. Early life and career Joseph Mason Reeves was born on November 20, 1872, in the village of Tampico, Illinois. He received an appointment in 1890 to attend the United States Naval Academy, where he became a football hero. In addition to his on-field heroics, he is credited with the invention of the modern football helmet, which he had a shoemaker create for him after being told by a Navy doctor that another kick to his head could result in "instant insanity" or death. Reeves graduated from the academy in 1894. Upon graduation, Reeves was assigned to the cruiser . He served on the battleship during the Spanish–American War, taking part in the action against Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete's fleet at Santiago de Cuba in June and July 1898. Start of the 20th century Through World War I After the start of the 20th century, Reeves served in San Francisco and on the battleships and in addition to tours ashore at Newport and Annapolis, where he was an instructor in the Naval Academy's Department of Physics and Chemistry, 1906–08. He served as the academy's head football coach in 1907, guiding the team to a 9–2–1 record and a 6–0 victory over Army. Following duties as ordnance officer on board the battleship , Reeves served as ordnance officer in the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. He followed this with assignment to the Board of Inspection and Survey and a tour as Commanding Officer, Naval Coal Depot, Tiburon, California. In April 1913, Commander Reeves assumed command of the collier , the Navy's first electrically propelled vessel. The ship was rebuilt and recommissioned in 1922 as , the Navy's first aircraft carrier. Detached from Jupiter in April 1914, he commanded the cruiser and various