OL numbering system

Question
I've understood the even (right side) and odd (left side) gap numbering system since I was a kid. Yesterday my son asked me who invented the system and why they decided everything on the left side of the ball had an odd number. I guess I didn't know it as well as I thought. Where'd it come from?  

Answer
Jeff
That is a great question!  I have no idea as to the answer- who invented the system or where it came from...  I will try to follow up to this.  I have spent about 4 hours researching this answer and have called some college coaches and no one seems to know the correct answer.  I have some very old articles and manuals I will read this week.

Your son has stumped this expert and 2 major college coaches with his question.  The simple suggested answer is that the right handed bias in society yields the even numbers while the odd number correspond with the irregular left side.  Most plays were runt to the strong side and in many formations the strong side was the right side and the left side was the weak side.

Jeff,
You son has asked a true stumper!  I spoke briefly with a sport librarian who did some quick research and he could not find the answer.  I have a feeling it is a practice that was integrated into football from some other field.