Merle Hapes

Who was Merle Hapes?

Merle Alison Hapes was a professional American football fullback in the National Football League. He played two seasons for the New York Giants.

He and quarterback Frank Filchock were involved in a gambling scandal in 1946.

Since the betting scandal meant he was indefinitely suspended from playing professional football in the United States, he went to Canada. He played one season for the Hamilton Tigers in 1949. They became the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1950, but Hapes was injured for the entire season. For the next two seasons he was an assistant coach with the Tabbies, but returned to play as a back up for two final serasons, winning the Grey Cup with Hamilton in 1953.

Hapes returned to the States and worked in the Civil Service and the Department of Defence until 1982. In 1993 Hapes was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame of Mississippi.

Merle Hapes died July 18, 1994, survived by his wife, Evelyn Pevey Hapes, two daughters, a son and seven grandchildren.