:Merle Zuver
{{Short description|American football player (1905–1969)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Merle Zuver
| number = 14
| image = File:Merle Zuver - Nebraska.png
| caption = Zuver at Nebraska
| alt = Black and white portrait of Zuver in uniform
| position = Guard
| birth_date = {{birth date|1905|1|25}}
| birth_place = Adams, Nebraska, US
| death_date = {{death date and age|1969|3|25|1905|1|25}}
| death_place = Phoenix, Arizona, US
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 198
| high_school = Adams (Nebraska)
| college = Nebraska
| pastteams =
| highlights =
- NFL champion (1930)
| statseason =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 10
| pfr = ZuveMe20
}}
Merle Dale Zuver (January 25, 1905 – March 25, 1969) was an American professional football player who was a guard for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, where he lettered and was named to the all-conference team. During his only season in the NFL with the Packers in 1930, the team won the NFL Championship. After his career, he was an electrical contractor before retiring to Phoenix, Arizona.
Early life and college
Merle Zuver was born and raised in Adams, Nebraska, where he attended Adams High School. After high school, he went to the University of Nebraska where he lettered for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football for three years from 1926 to 1928.{{Cite news | url = https://journalstar.com/merle-zuver-from-adams-pop-573/article_69006aa8-881a-5a54-8fe2-40818fea225c.html | title = Merle Zuver from Adams, pop. 573 | newspaper = Lincoln Journal Star | date = September 8, 2020 | access-date = August 1, 2023 | archive-date = August 1, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230801164919/https://journalstar.com/merle-zuver-from-adams-pop-573/article_69006aa8-881a-5a54-8fe2-40818fea225c.html | url-status = live }} He was also named to the all-conference team for two straight years. He was noted for his speed and aggressiveness on the playing field during his college years.
Football career
After college graduation, Zuver played football for a season with the Ironton Tanks in Ironton, Ohio.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-packers-get-vete/129250500/ | title = Packers Get Veteran Tackle and Center | date = August 19, 1930 | access-date = August 1, 2023 | newspaper = Green Bay Press-Gazette | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 13 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230801164855/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-packers-get-vete/129250500/ | archive-date = August 1, 2023 }} He also may have coached football during his time in Ohio.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-zuver-and-hanny-sign/129250568/ | title = Zuver and Hanny Sign With Green Bay Packers | agency = Associated Press | date = August 22, 1930 | access-date = August 1, 2023 | newspaper = Wausau Daily Herald | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = 10 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230801164923/https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-zuver-and-hanny-sign/129250568/ | archive-date = August 1, 2023 }} In 1930, he signed on with the Green Bay Packers under head coach Curly Lambeau. During the 1930 season, he played ten games for the Packers, starting in five of them.{{cite web | url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Z/ZuveMe20.htm | title = Merle Zuver | website = Pro-Football-Reference.com | access-date = August 1, 2023 | archive-date = October 9, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221009021835/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Z/ZuveMe20.htm | url-status = live }} The Packers finished the season with a record of 10–3–1, earning them their second consecutive championship.{{Cite news | url = https://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/259171161.html/ | newspaper = Milwaukee Journal | last = Kuechle | first = Oliver | title = Packers Tie Spartans and Win Championship | date = December 15, 1930 | access-date = August 1, 2023 | archive-date = January 9, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230109055729/https://archive.jsonline.com/sports/packers/259171161.html/ | url-status = live }}
Personal life
File:Merle Zuver headstone.jpg
After his football career, Zuver moved to Portland, Oregon, and worked as an electrical contractor. He retired in 1959 and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Zuver married once but did not have any children. He died on March 25, 1969, at the age of 64.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-obituary-for-merle-dale/129250676/ | title = Merle D. Zuver | date = March 27, 1969 | access-date = August 1, 2023 | newspaper = Arizona Republic | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | page = D-7 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230801164856/https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-obituary-for-merle-dale/129250676/ | archive-date = August 1, 2023 }}{{Clear}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{1930 Green Bay Packers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zuver, Merle}}
Category:People from Gage County, Nebraska
Category:Green Bay Packers players
Category:American football offensive guards