William Hapscomb

William "Bill" or "Hap" Hapscomb was the owner of Hapscomb's Texaco in Arnette, East Texas. He had a wife named Mary. His business was an ailing one, because few cars passed by, and he owed many creditors. He only made it to ninth grade before dropping out.

Personality and traits
Bill Hapscomb was a pure fool, as everyone who knew him was aware. They still respected him for the fact that he owned an establishment.

His social personality came to the fore after Charles Campion arrived, as he did his best to comfort the dying man. By the next morning, Hap was showing early, cold-like signs of superflu. Its progress in him was slow, with symptoms remaining mild when his group was evacuated. Several days later, after at least ten other people from Arnette had succumbed, he was still well enough to watch television. Staff at the quarantine center where he and others from Arnette were staying considered him a "good sport".