Tharpe in 1925
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| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1903-07-12)July 12, 1903 Moultrie, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | February 21, 1945(1945-02-21) (aged 41) North Pacific Ocean, off Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Japanese Empire |
| Alma mater | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Playing career | |
| 1925–1926 | Georgia Tech |
| Position(s) | T |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1928-1941 | Georgia Tech (assistant) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| All-Southern (1926) Tech Athletic Hall of Fame | |
Mercer McCall "Mack" Tharpe (July 12, 1903 – February 21, 1945) was a college football player and coach, bomber pilot, and insurance salesman.[1] He was killed in action during the Second World War.[2]
Tharpe was a prominent tackle for William Alexander's Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets football team, selected All-Southern in 1926.[3]
He returned to his alma mater to coach in 1928, promoted to line coach in 1934.[1] In 1931, he sought a scouting report on North Carolina, and Robert Neyland had Bobby Dodd explain the defense to him.[4]
Along with Alexander he is the namesake of the Alexander-Tharpe fund.[5] Tharpe was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 1961.[6]
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