Happy Hundred
Encyclopedia
The "Happy Hundred", also known as the "100 Brothers", was a group of investors who owned the Philadelphia Eagles
franchise of the National Football League
from 1949–1963. The group was headed by James P. Clark, the majority owner. Frank McNamee, the team president, and Clark rounded up 100 Philadelphia investors to invest $3,000 each to purchase the team for $250,000 from Alexis "Lex" Thompson on January 15, 1949. The Eagles won two NFL Championships while under ownership of the "Happy Hundred," in 1949 and 1960. By his death in 1962, Clark had owned twenty percent of the team and only 65 investors were left from the original "Happy Hundred." The "Happy Hundred" sold the club to Jerry Wolman
in December 1963 for $5,505,000, and each investor received more than $60,000. One member of the "Happy Hundred," Leonard Tose
, tried to buy the team from the majority owners in 1956 with a group of his own, but did not have success. He eventually bought the Eagles from Wolman in 1963 and owned the team until 1985.
Bill Mackrides
, the starting quarterback
for the Eagles in 1948
, claimed that the "Happy Hundred" was a sham. He said, "That's all pure myth. It made for a good story and headlines but the truth is Lex Thompson sold about 60 shares to Jim Clark. Clark had a friend who owned another 20 shares. To this day, no one knows that."
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
franchise of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
from 1949–1963. The group was headed by James P. Clark, the majority owner. Frank McNamee, the team president, and Clark rounded up 100 Philadelphia investors to invest $3,000 each to purchase the team for $250,000 from Alexis "Lex" Thompson on January 15, 1949. The Eagles won two NFL Championships while under ownership of the "Happy Hundred," in 1949 and 1960. By his death in 1962, Clark had owned twenty percent of the team and only 65 investors were left from the original "Happy Hundred." The "Happy Hundred" sold the club to Jerry Wolman
Jerry Wolman
Jerry Wolman is a former Washington, D.C. developer and the former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles football team of the National Football League. Wolman bought the Eagles franchise in 1963 from the "Happy Hundred," a group of investors that owned the team from 1949–1963, for a sale price of...
in December 1963 for $5,505,000, and each investor received more than $60,000. One member of the "Happy Hundred," Leonard Tose
Leonard Tose
Leonard Hyman Tose was an owner of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1969–1985. He made a fortune in the trucking industry and was known for his lavish lifestyle...
, tried to buy the team from the majority owners in 1956 with a group of his own, but did not have success. He eventually bought the Eagles from Wolman in 1963 and owned the team until 1985.
Bill Mackrides
Bill Mackrides
William "Bill" Mackrides is a former American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He helped the Eagles win the 1948 NFL Championship...
, the starting quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the Eagles in 1948
1949 NFL season
The 1949 NFL season was the 30th regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, Boston Yanks owner Ted Collins asked the league to fold his team due to financial woes, and give him a new one in New York City...
, claimed that the "Happy Hundred" was a sham. He said, "That's all pure myth. It made for a good story and headlines but the truth is Lex Thompson sold about 60 shares to Jim Clark. Clark had a friend who owned another 20 shares. To this day, no one knows that."