Following his service in the Navy during WWII, Merrill returned home to Albany, Oregon, where he and his wife Norma started their family. After turning down an offer to play baseball at Oregon State University he went into the advertising agency business with his brother Frank. Then in 1953, he accepted a position in the advertising and marketing department of Pacific Power and Light in Portland, Oregon. A few years later, he opened his own ad agency in Portland, which was short-lived when he was offered a dream job as advertising and marketing director for the Elmer's Restaurant chain...

Following his service in the Navy during WWII, Merrill returned home to Albany, Oregon, where he and his wife Norma started their family. After turning down an offer to play baseball at Oregon State University he went into the advertising agency business with his brother Frank. Then in 1953, he accepted a position in the advertising and marketing department of Pacific Power and Light in Portland, Oregon. A few years later, he opened his own ad agency in Portland, which was short-lived when he was offered a dream job as advertising and marketing director for the Elmer's Restaurant chain...