{{Short description|American football player (1934–2016)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Bill Lapham | number = 54, 52 | position = Center | birth_date = {{birth date |1934|2|2}} | birth_place = Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2016|11|8|1934|2|2}} | death_place = Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 5 | weight_lb = 238 | high_school = Lincoln (Des Moines) | college = Drake (1952)<br>Iowa (1957–1959) | draftyear = 1958 | draftround = 14 | draftpick = 160 | pastteams = * Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|1960}}) * Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|1961}}) * Denver Broncos (1962–1963)* | highlights = * NFL champion (1960) * Second-team All-Big Ten (1959) | statlabel1 = Games played | statvalue1 = 26 | statlabel2 = Games started | statvalue2 = 17 | statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue3 = 1 | pfr = L/LaphBi20 }}
'''William Gaius Lapham''' (February 2, 1934 – November 8, 2016) was an American professional football center who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Drake University and the University of Iowa.
==Early life and college== William Gaius Lapham was born on February 2, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa.<ref name="pfa">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/l/laph00200.html | title=Bill Lapham | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=16 December 2024}}</ref> He attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Des Moines.<ref name="pfa"/>
Lapham was a member of the Drake Bulldogs of Drake University in 1952.<ref name="pfa"/> After a stint in the United States Air Force, Lapham was a three-year letterman for the Iowa Hawkeyes of the University of Iowa from 1957 to 1959.<ref name="pfa"/> He was named second-team All-Big Ten by both the Associated Press and United Press International in 1959.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lanphear Unanimous AP All-Big Ten Choice|author=Charles Chamberlain|newspaper=The LaCrosse Tribune|date=November 24, 1959|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/88126640/?terms=look%2Bjeter%2Bhouston}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=4 Northwestern gridders make UPI all-Big 10 team; Norton, Jeter place|author=Ed Sainsbury|newspaper=Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa|date=November 27, 1959|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/725343/?terms=look%2Bjeter%2Bhouston%2Bcoaches}}</ref>
==Professional career== Lapham was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 14th round, with the 160th overall pick, of the 1958 NFL draft.<ref name="pfa"/> He was also selected by the Houston Oilers in the "first selections" portion of the 1960 American Football League draft.<ref name="pfa"/> He signed with the Eagles on January 14, 1960.<ref name="transactions"/> He played in all 12 games, starting four, for the Eagles during the 1960 NFL season.<ref name="pfr"/> Lapham also played in the 1960 NFL Championship Game victory over the Green Bay Packers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaphBi20/gamelog/1960/ | title=Bill Lapham 1960 Game Log | publisher=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=16 December 2024}}</ref>
Lapham was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1961 NFL expansion draft.<ref name="transactions"/> He appeared in all 14 games, starting 13 at center, for the Vikings during their inaugural season in 1961.<ref name="pfr">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LaphBi20.htm | title=Bill Lapham | publisher=pro-football-reference.com | accessdate=16 December 2024}}</ref> The Vikings finished the year with a 3–11 record.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1961nflmin.html | title=1961 Minnesota Vikings (NFL) | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=16 December 2024}}</ref> Lapham became a free agent after the season.<ref name="transactions"/>
He signed with the Denver Broncos of the AFL in 1962, but was later released on September 4, 1962.<ref name="transactions"/> He signed with the Broncos again in 1963 but was released later.<ref name="transactions">{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/l/laph00200.html | title=Bill Lapham NFL Transactions | publisher=profootballarchives.com | accessdate=16 December 2024}}</ref>
==Personal life== Lapham died on November 8, 2016, at the age of 82 in Des Moines.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/desmoinesregister/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=182426222|title=William G. Lapham Sr. Obituary (1934 - 2016) the des Moines Register|newspaper=Legacy.com}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Eagles1958DraftPicks}} {{1960 Philadelphia Eagles}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lapham, Bill}} Category:1934 births Category:2016 deaths Category:Players of American football from Des Moines, Iowa Category:American football centers Category:Drake Bulldogs football players Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football players Category:Philadelphia Eagles players Category:Minnesota Vikings players Category:Denver Broncos players Category:United States Air Force personnel Category:20th-century American sportsmen