Bob Chappuis

Infobox NFL player
Name=Robert Richard “Bob” Chappuis


DateOfBirth=birth date and age|mf=yes|1923|02|24
Birthplace=Toledo, Ohio
DateOfDeath=
Deathplace=
number=49
Position=HB/QB
College=University of Michigan
Awards=All-American, 1947 Finished 2nd in Heisman Trophy voting, 1947
Honors=
DatabaseFootball= CHAPPBOB01
years=
teams=Brooklyn Dodgers, 1948 Chicago Hornets, 1949
CollegeHOF=40075
Honors=Big Ten rushing Champion, 1946 Big Ten Total offense Champion, 1946 & 1947 Michigan team MVP, 1946
Records=Big Ten Conference Records Single-season passer rating (1947–) Single-season total offense (1946–1951)

Michigan Records Career total offense (1947–1970) Career passer rating (1947–80) Single-season yards/completion (1947–) Career yards/completion (1947–78) Single-season touchdown percentage (1947–76) Career touchdown percentage (1947–78) Single-season total offense/play (1947–76) Career total offense/play (1947–78)

HOF=

Robert Richard "Bob" Chappuis (pronounced CHAP-pē-əs)cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,779320-1,00.html|title=Kickoff|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1947-10-06|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine] (born February 24, 1923 in Toledo, Ohio) is a former All-American football player who played halfback and quarterback for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 1942, 1946, and 1947. His college years were interrupted by service in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. Chappuis flew 21 missions as a radio operator and aerial gunner on B-25 bombers in the European Theater. His aircraft was shot down in February 1945 in the Lombardy region of Northern Italy. Chappuis parachuted from the plane before it crashed and was rescued by Italian partisans who hid Chappuis and two other crew members for three months until the end of the war.

After the war, Chappuis returned to Michigan where he broke the Big Nine Conference record for total offense in 1946 and then broke his own record in 1947. He led the 1947 Michigan team known as the “Mad Magicians” to an undefeated season and a 49–0 win over the USC Trojans in the 1948 Rose Bowl game. Chappuis was a unanimous All-American selection in 1947 and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1948 Rose Bowl. His picture appeared on the cover of "Time" magazine in 1947 in connection with a feature article about Chappuis and the 1947 Wolverines. He placed second in the 1947 Heisman Trophy balloting.

During his career he established many football records that lasted for over a generation. He continues to hold the Big Ten Conference single-season passer rating record and the Michigan Wolverines single-season yards/completion records. He was one of the early passing specialists in an era where football players were just beginning to either play on offense or defense instead of both.

Chappuis played professional football in the All-America Football Conference as a quarterback for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Hornets in 1948 and 1949. He led the Dodgers in total offense in 1948 with 1,402 yards passing and 310 yards rushing. When both clubs and the AAFC folded, Chappuis retired from football in 1950. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

Early years

Chappuis grew up in Toledo, Ohio, where his father was an executive with a porcelain products company who had played quarterback for Denison University, located near Columbus, Ohio. Chappuis graduated from DeVilbiss High School where he was a star football player. When it came time to choose a college, his father said his only preference for his son was that he not attend Ohio State. Chappuis could not provide much of an explanation for his father's preference: “Dad just didn't like Ohio State.”

College football in 1942

Chappuis played in nine games for Michigan as a sophomore in 1942, contributing 220 yards rushing, 358 yards passing, and 30 yards receiving.cite web|title=Bentley Library: Bob Chappuis|url= http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aachappu.htm|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2007-01-10|accessdate=2008-04-14] In his first game as a college halfback, Chappuis completed seven of eighteen passes for a gain of 80 yards, and also rushed for 49 yards in a 9–0 win over the Great Lakes Naval Training Station.cite news|author=Davies, Russ|title=Rustling Thru Sports: Chappuis fits The Bill|publisher=The Chronicle-Telegram (Elyria, Ohio)|date=1942-10-02] Chappuis' predecessor as Michigan's halfback, Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon, completed seven passes in a single game only three times in three years, a feat accomplished by Chappuis in his first game.

ervice in World War II

Infobox Military Person
name=Bob Chappuis
born=
died=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=


caption= Bob Chappuis
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=U.S. Army Air Forces
serviceyears= 1943–1945
rank= Lieutenant
commands=
unit=
battles=World War II European Theater of Operations
awards=
relations=
laterwork=Chappuis' college program was interrupted by military service from 1943–1945. During World War II, Chappuis earned the rank of Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Forces. He flew 21 missions as a radio operator and aerial gunner in B-25 bombers. His crew sunk a cruiser in an Italian harbor, which earned it a citation in September 1944. He flew his first mission, which was targeting a railroad bridge in the heavily-fortified Brenner Pass on Christmas Day 1944. At the time he was a Sergeant. On February 13, 1945, Chappuis flew his 21st mission when he was assigned to fill in for a sick crew member.cite news|title=’M’ All-American At Tosi’s: Chappuis’ Life Story Like Movie Script|publisher=The Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, Mich.)|date=1975-08-19] Chappuis’ B-25 bomber was assigned to bomb a railroad tunnel in the Italian mountains north of the Po River. “Over the target, a burst of flak knocked out one engine, then the other engine went out. When the order came to bail out, the tailgunner went out first, and got stuck in the escape hatch, pinned against the rear of it by the wind pressure. Chappuis kicked him in the only accessible place—his head—and knocked him loose. Then he jumped.”

Chappuis was rescued by an Italian partisan, Aldo Comucci. Comucci was 21 years old at the time and was in charge of one of the many underground groups operating in the area. Comucci and his band of resistance fighters got to Chappuis before the Germans and hid him and two other American flyers from the same plane for nearly three months until the end of the war. The partisans passed Chappuis and the two other Americans from house to house, and village to village, toward the Swiss frontier. Dressed in shawls—but still wearing G.I. shoes—they once walked undetected past a German sentry.

Chappuis and his crewmates finally wound up in a home in the small town of Asola, Italy, in the Province of Mantua, Lombardy, about convert|40|mi|km from Milan. The German headquarters was two houses away, and the drill grounds were across the street. Accordingly, Chappuis and the other Americans could not walk near a window or talk above a whisper. They passed the time playing cards with each other and with the Ugolini family with whom they stayed, and reading a well-worn copy of "Uncle Tom's Cabin". The Americans were nearly captured one evening when the Fascist fiancé of one of the Ugolini daughters entered the house unannounced and found the Americans playing cards. He threatened to turn the American in, but was persuaded not to when told it would mean the death of his fiancée and her family for aiding the Americans.

When V-E Day arrived in early May 1945, Chappuis and his crewmates stayed in Asola for a week-long celebration. On the night the war ended, residents of Asola removed the seats from the town’s theater for a victory ball. While two orchestras played onstage, the liberated townspeople toasted the Americans, and Chappuis danced with the Ugolinis' daughters. When Chappuis returned to the United States, he stayed in touch with the Ugolinis and sent them weekly food packages. Chappuis also stayed in touch with Comucci, the resistance leader who rescued him. In 1974, Chappuis returned to Italy to meet with Comucci for the first time in 20 years. And in August 1975, Comucci and his wife traveled to Michigan to visit Chappuis.

All-American at the University of Michigan

1946 season

Chappuis returned to Michigan after being discharged from the military and played football in the spring of 1946. He returned in time to join the Michigan baseball team, where he played in the outfield, led the team in batting, and helped them win the Big Nine championship with a 26-game winning streak. [cite news|title=Michigan’s Nine Win 26th Straight|publisher=The Wisconsin State Journal|date=1946-05-01] [cite news|author=Grayson, Harry|title=Fritz Crisler Predicts Greatest College Football Season|publisher=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|date=1946-08-19]

When football season arrived in the fall, Chappuis was one of many veterans who returned to college and the gridiron after serving in the war. Many of the returning veterans were not in prime football condition at the start of the 1946 season, and Coach Fritz Crisler “predicted it might be November before ex-servicemen were adjusted physically and mentally to play their top game.”cite news|title=Military Veterans Find Grid Warfare Right Up Their Alley|publisher=Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune|date=1946-10-10] Chappuis later recalled that he was 23 years old when he returned to school, and some of the returning veterans “didn't know if they could get back into the rah-rah of college football, but Fritz took care of that. He really whipped us into shape.” Despite any difficulties in re-adjusting to civilian life and football, Chappuis had a tremendous football season in 1946. He broke Otto Graham's Big Nine Conference record for total offensive yards.cite news|title=Bob Chappuis Out To Make Grid History At Michigan|publisher=Portland Press-Herald (Maine)|date=1947-10-21] Though reports differ as to Chappuis' total yards gained, University of Michigan records show that Chappuis gained 1,284 yards in 1946 – 734 yards passing, 501 yards rushing and 49 yards receiving. Chappuis set the new offensive mark in 1946 with a fractured bone in his wrist that he did not report until after the season had ended, at which time an operation was performed. Chappuis later said he knew the x-ray would reveal a fracture, and he would be benched before he even began. He delayed the examination until the season was over because “the time to break into the lineup is prior to the first game. If I hadn't, there were so many capable candidates around who could have made good behind our front wall that I'd never have become a first-stringer by returning in the middle of the season.” Accordingly, Chappuis played the 1946 season with a fractured wrist and without even bothering to tape the wrist.

1947 season

Given the off-season wrist surgery, Chappuis was questionable for the 1947 season. As the season got underway, Chappuis said the wrist was “not as loose” as it was in 1946, but he felt it was "loose enough." In the end, Chappuis broke his own Big Nine total offense record by gaining 1,405 yards as compared with 1,284 yards in 1946.cite news|author=Eck, Frank|title=Midwest Places 3 in All-American Backfield: Lujack, Evans, Chappuis Chosen|publisher=Ironwood Daily Globe|date=1947-12-03] He completed 48 out of 84 passes for 976 yards, including 11 touchdown passes. He also scored five touchdowns and gained 544 yards rushing. In the season opener against Michigan State, Chappuis scored three touchdowns in a 55–0 victory, as Michigan outgained the Spartans 504 yards rushing to 56. [cite news|title=Bob Chappuis Leads Wolves to 55-0 Win|publisher=Wisconsin State Journal|date=1947-09-28] Michigan finished the 1947 season with a 21–0 victory over Ohio State. In his last game at Michigan Stadium, Chappuis set a Michigan single-game record for total offense that would last 20 years. Altogether, Chappuis accounted for 307 yards, rushing for 90 yards and completing 12 of 27 passes for 217 yards. [cite news|author=Kennesson, Frank|title=Big 9 Champion Wolves Win; Hoosiers Upset Purdue, 16–14: Bob Chappuis Gets 307 Yards in Win Over Ohio State|publisher=Associated Press|date=1947-11-23] This stood as a school single-game total offense record for over twenty years. At the end of the 1947 season, Chappuis was named a unanimous first-team All-American. [cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,890131,00.html|title=untitled|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1951-07-23|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine] He also finished second to Johnny Lujack in the 1947 Heisman Trophy voting, with Lujack receiving 742 first and second place votes to 555 for Chappuis. [cite web|url=http://www.heisman.com/winners/j-lujack47.html|title=1947-13th Award, John Lujack, Notre Dame Back|accessdate=2008-04-10|publisher=Heisman Trophy] [cite news|title=Heisman Trophy Voting|publisher=Pacific Stars and Stripes|date=1991-12-18] Despite the glowing adjectives heaped on him, reporters noted that “Chappuis can still wear his regular size seven headgear.” Chappuis gave credit to his line saying, “Anyone passing behind the protection that line gave me could have done as well.”cite news|author=Bussey, Bev|title=Chappuis Unspoiled by All-America Honors, Praises Own Teammates|publisher=Long Beach Press-Telegram|date=1947-12-07] In another sign of his modesty on a team with only two two-way players Chappuis said "You have to smell where to go on pass defense—and my sniffer's not too good." when asked why he does not play both ways.

In addition to having the most accomplished season of his collegiate career, Chappuis was a leader on campus.cite news|title=1,000 Yard a Year Man|publisher=Look Magazine|date=1947-10-28] He was elected president of the Michigan Alpha chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity whose membership included a number of his teammates and prominent University of Michigan athletic alumni such as Tom Harmon, Bob Ufer, and Harry G. Kipke. [cite news|title=Michigan Alpha Chapter Phi Delta Theta Fraternity Membership Directory|publisher=Stewart Howe Alumni Service|date=1998] Chappuis appeared on the cover of the October 28, 1947 issue of "Look" magazine which featured pictures of him on the football field and at the fraternity house. In the magazine, Chappuis and his future wife were also featured about the Michigan campus. He expressed an interest in first playing professional football for a few years before going into the porcelain business with his father.

Look magazine devoted over a dozen pictures to showing Chappuis play in the offense. In the 1940s, the offense was perceived as gimmicky and magical and the magazine described how the offense used various fakes and delays to gain the advantage in timing by concealing the point of attack and the attacker. The contemprorary football lingo desecribed the basic attack as a "fullback spinner cycle with the backs deployed loosely." It described an alternate formation as a single-wing formation with direct snap from center to left halfback (Chappuis' position). The article also describes T maneuvers, lateral passes and end around plays as part of the offense.

Passing “specialist”

Chappuis drew considerable attention in the national press for his abilities as a passer, one of the game's first passing “specialists.” In November 1947, "Time" magazine ran a feature article about Chappuis and the 1947 Wolverines (with Chappuis' photograph on the cover) [cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19471103,00.html|title=Robert A. Chappuis|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1947-11-03|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine] called “The Specialist.”cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,779413-1,00.html|title=The Specialist|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1947-11-03|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine] The "Time" article focused on the new era of specialization marked by coach Fritz Crisler's decision to field separate offensive and defensive units in 1947. The article focused on Chappuis as Michigan's “prize specialist,” who was described as “Crisler's triggerman.” “His job is to throw forward passes and there is no one in 1947 collegiate football who does it better. . . . In Michigan's first five games, Specialist Chappuis was on the field less than one-third of the time, but of the 27 passes he threw, 19 were complete – five of them for touchdowns. . . . When Chappuis fades back to pass, he is a slow-motion study in coolness and concentration.”

Crisler said Chappuis was “the finest passer I have ever handled and probably one of the best I've ever seen. He plays as though he had ice water in his veins.” Crisler felt that “great passers are born,” and the difference between a great and a merely good passer is in the eyes. "Time" noted that Chappuis had great field vision for his downfield receivers and for oncoming defenders. “Like a good baseball catcher, he throws the ball off his right ear, with a snap motion. He throws what the coaches call a ‘heavy ball.’” Another writer noted that Chappuis was “endowed with a passer's sixth sense, ‘split vision,’” and an ability to “pick out his receiver after one glance over the field.”

"Time" also noted that Chappuis was unlike his predecessor, the “hail-fellow” Tom Harmon. “His snaggleteeth and sharp features earned him the nickname ‘Bird Face’ when he was a kid.” "Time" also reported that Chappuis “learns easily, just as he does in the classroom, where he makes a C-plus average seemingly without ever opening a book.”

When Chappuis graduated, he held numerous school records, including most touchdown passes in a career with 23, a record that was not broken until 30 years later by four-year starter, Rick Leach. [cite news|title=Michigan drubs Iowa, Leach sets pass mark|publisher=Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, Ohio|date=1977-10-30] He also held the record for most touchdown passes in a season with 13, a record that was tied by Leach in 1976. [cite news|title=Michigan Victory Sets Up Showdown|publisher=Galveston Daily News|date=1976-11-14] He also held the school record for most career total offensive yards with 3,487, a record broken in 1970 by Don Moorhead. [cite news|title=Michigan Manhandles Iowa 55–0|publisher= Pacific Stars And Stripes|date=1970-11-16]

1948 Rose Bowl and All-Star Game

Chappuis played his last game for Michigan in a 49–0 win over the USC Trojans in the 1948 Rose Bowl game. Chappuis ran for 91 yards, completed 14 of 24 passes for 188 yards, was named the Most Valuable Player, and set Rose Bowl records for total offense and pass completions. [cite news|title=Michigan Swamps Trojans 49 to 0 in Rose Bowl Tilt|publisher=Oakland Tribune|date=1948-01-02] [cite news|author=Stiles, Maxwell|title=Michigan Rips Trojans Apart|publisher=Long Beach Press-Telegram|date=1948-01-02] The "Long Beach Independent" reported: “Bob Chappuis was every inch the All-American he has been tabbed. Running, faking and pivoting beautifully, he averaged 7 yards a crack for 13 carries and completed 14 out of 24 pitches for 188 yards . . . which gave him a new total offense record of 279 yards for the classic.” [cite news|title=Michigan Overpowers SC|publisher=Long Beach Independent|date=1948-01-02] [cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,794146,00.html?promoid=googlep|title=The Case for Michigan|accessdate=2008-03-23|date=1948-01-12|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine]

An interesting sidelight of the Rose Bowl was the Rose Bowl Queen nomination of Ann Gestie, the future Ms. Bob Chappuis, which was against the tradition of having a queen from city-state|Pasadena|California. Buck Dawson, the manager of the Michigan Yearbook who would go on to marry the daughter of Matthew Mann, was the proponent of the nomination. Although tradition was upheld, Gestie's photograph appeared on the front page of the "Los Angeles Times" along with the caption "Overlooked Michigan Beauty." [cite web|url=http://www.umich.edu/~newsinfo/MT/96/Fall96/mta11f96.html|title=The Adventures of Buck Dawson|author=Walker, Linda Robinson|date=Fall 1996|publisher=Umich.edu|accessdate=2008-04-14]

Chappuis was also selected to play for coach Frank Leahy on the College All-Star squad against the 1947 Chicago Cardinals who were the 1947 NFL Champions. In the 15th game College All-star vs. NFL Champion match, the Cardinals scored the biggest victory to date with a 28–0 victory. Among the collegians were Lujack and Chuck Conerly. The pros included Paul Christman and Charlie Trippi. [cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,799091,00.html|title=Dated Dream|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1948-08-30|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine] Supposedly, the 1947 class had a void at fullback, which may have been the problem with their offense in the All-star game shutout. [cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,887764-2,00.html|title=Eleven Good Men & True (page 2)|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1947-11-24|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine]

Celebrity

He became a celebrity of sorts at Michigan. [cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,794157,00.html|title=Going My Way?|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1948-01-12|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine] He was mentioned in several issues of "Time Magazine", and his wedding was even announced in the magazine. [cite web|url=http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=15&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.time.com%2Ftime%2Fmagazine%2Farticle%2F0%2C9171%2C853910%2C00.html%3Fpromoid%3Dgooglep&ei=S1vlR8OzHJqMiwHpkNW9BQ&usg=AFQjCNF8U0IhucA78DD5Q-qVexKUzbhHJQ&sig2=_ZWG4E8QZpGpAzI_PafYoQ|title=untitled|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1949-07-25|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine] In addition, his time at Michigan defined an era in a way that became a permanent reference. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0DE1F39F935A15757C0A967958260&scp=2&sq=Bob+Chappuis&st=nyt|title= SPORTS OF THE TIMES; Giants Can't Let Parcells Get Away|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1991-04-26|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times|author=Anderson, Dave] [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE1DE1438F931A35752C0A96F948260&scp=3&sq=Bob+Chappuis&st=nyt|title= THE BOWL GAMES; Two Old Rivals Meet in Pasadena|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1989-01-02|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times|author=White, Gordon S., Jr.] In 1988 he was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame. [cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE2D9103DF932A05752C0A96E948260&scp=4&sq=Bob+Chappuis&st=nyt|title= Correction|accessdate=2008-03-22|date=1988-01-31|publisher=The New York Times Company|work=The New York Times]

Professional football

Chappuis was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and reports in February 1948 indicated that the Steelers had offered him a two-year contract for $20,000 per year. [cite news|title=Chappuis to Play With Steelers|publisher=San Antonio Express|date=1948-02-28] However, Chappuis passed up the Steelers offer, opting instead to play for the new All-America Football Conference. In June 1948, Chappuis signed with Branch Rickey's Brooklyn Dodgers of the AAFC after coach Carl Voyles outbid the Steelers for his services at $17,000.cite web|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,779969,00.html|title=Football in a Heat Wave|accessdate=2008-03-23|publisher=Time Inc.|work=Time Magazine] Chappuis had been drafted by the Cleveland Browns, and the Dodgers gave the Browns three draft picks in exchange for the right to sign Chappuis. [cite news|title=Brooklyn Grid Team Signs Bob Chappuis|publisher=Iowa City Press-Citizen|date=1948-06-28] Rickey had felt that modern football was based on speed and that he could win with a good center, passing quarterback and two tall sprinting ends. Thus, he placed a premium on signing Chappuis, the passing quarterback. Unfortunately, the college All-star game caused Chappuis to miss three weeks of practice and he played little in the early season games because he had not learned his plays.

In his first professional game against the San Francisco 49ers, Chappuis ran the ball 37 yards to the 49ers six-yard line in the fourth quarter, giving fans “an indication of what sent all the major professional clubs after his services.” [cite news|author=Willis, Wally|title=49ers Trounce Brooklyn, 36-20|publisher=Oakland Tribune|date=1948-09-06] Chappuis played in 13 games for the Dodgers in 1948 and shared the quarterbacking responsibilities with Bob Hoernschemeyer who played in all 14 games. Chappuis led the team in total offense (1712 to 1428 for Hoernschemeyer).cite web|title=1948 Brooklyn Dodgers|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/bda/1948.htm|accessdate=2008-04-14|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com] Chappuis completed 100 of 213 passes for 1,402 yards with 15 interceptions and eight touchdown passes. He also rushed for 310 yards, for an average of 6.0 yards per carry, and one rushing touchdown. [cite web|title=Bob Chappuis|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ChapBo20.htm|publisher=pro-football-reference.com|accessdate=2008-04-14|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com] Although, Chappuis led the team in total offense, Hoernschemeyer also made eleven receptions and served as both a kick returner and punt returner at various times during the season. Unfortunately for Chappuis, the Dodgers finished the season with a 2–12 record and folded after the 1948 season.

In 1949, Chappuis played for the Chicago Hornets, also of the AAFC, but saw only limited playing time as a back-up to Hoernschemeyer and Johnny Clement on a team that went 4–10.cite news|title=Chappuis to Quit Pro Grid Ranks|publisher=European Stars And Stripes|date=1950-06-07] [cite web|title=1949 Chicago Hornets|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/cra/1949.htm|accessdate=2008-04-14|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com] When the AAFC went out of existence after the 1949 season, Chappuis retired from football.cite news|title=Whatever Happened To . . . Bob Chappuis|publisher=Leader-Times, Kittanning, Penn.|date=1958-06-06] In announcing his retirement in June 1950, Chappuis said he was through with professional football and that his ambition then was to enjoy a more leisurely lifestyle and to be able to visit Ann Arbor for those fall football games.

After football

After retiring from football, Chappuis worked in various business ventures. In the 1950s, he was in the electrical appliance business in South Bend, Indiana. He spent thirteen years with Central Soya Co. in Fort Wayne, Indiana, retiring in 1983 as the Vice President in charge of Labor Relations.cite web|title=College Football Hall of Fame: Bob Chappuis|url=http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=40075 |publisher=College Football Hall of Fame|accessdate=2008-04-14] He later formed his own management consulting business in Fort Wayne. [cite news|title=11 Named to College Football Hall of Fame|publisher=Pacific Stars and Stripes|date=1988-01-25]

Chappuis and his wife, Ann Chappuis, had four children. Chappuis is also the uncle of former Michigan and Baltimore Colts strong safety Rick Volk.

Honors and accolades

Chappuis has received numerous honors, including the following:
* Named Most Valuable Player on the 1946 Michigan Wolverines football team;cite web|title=Bentley Historical Library: 1946 Football Team|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1946fbt.htm|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2007-03-31|accessdate=2008-04-14]
* Named to the All-Big Nine Conference team, 1946;
* Consensus All-American, 1947; [cite web|title=University of Michigan Football Consensus All-Americans|url=http://mgoblue.com/football/article.aspx?id=40324|publisher=University of Michigan and Host Interactive|date=2005-03-03|accessdate=2008-04-14]
* Named to the All-Big Nine Conference team, 1947; [cite web|title=Bentley Historical Library: 1947 Football Team|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1947fbt.htm|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2007-03-31|accessdate=2008-04-14]
* Finished second to Johnny Lujack in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1947;
* Named Most Valuable Player of the 1948 Rose Bowl game;
* Inducted into the University of Michigan Hall of Honor in 1984; [cite web|title=University of Michigan Hall of Honor|url=http://www.letterwinnersmclub.com/hallofhonor.html|accessdate=2008-04-14|publisher=University of Michigan] and
* Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
* Inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 1992. [cite web|title=Rose Bowl Hall of Fame|url=http://www.tournamentofroses.com/history/halloffame.asp|publisher=Tournament of Roses|accessdate=2008-04-14]
* In 2005, Chappuis was selected as one of the 100 greatest Michigan football players of all time by the "Motown Sports Revival," ranking 28th on the all-time team. [cite web|url=http://motownsportsrevival.blogspot.com/2005/08/100-greatest-michigan-football-players.html|title=100 Greatest Michigan Football Players of All-Time |accessdate=2007-12-09|publisher=Motown Sports Revival|accessdate=2008-04-14]

ee also

*University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor

Notes

References

* [http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fballam/aachappu.htm Bentley Library Profile of Chappuis]
* [http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=40075 College Football Hall of Fame: Bob Chappuis]
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,779413-1,00.html Nov. 1947 Time magazine article on Chappuis]

Persondata
NAME=Bob Chappuis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Robert Richard Chappuis
SHORT DESCRIPTION=American football player
DATE OF BIRTH=February 24, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH=Toledo, Ohio
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=