1949 Rice All-America star end Froggy Williams dead at 87

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James "Froggy" Williams, an All-America end on Rice's 1949 Southwest Conference championship team and member of the College Football Hall of Fame, died Tuesday. He was 87.

Williams died at his Houston home while surrounded by loved ones, according to details provided by his family.

"We have truly lost one of Rice's greatest ambassadors," Rice head coach David Bailiff said in a statement. "Froggy represented some of the greatest moments from Rice's past glories, but he was also here to celebrate our more recent success. He loved seeing Rice in back in bowl games and winning championships again. "

Williams was part of two of Rice's most successful seasons capped with wins over Tennessee in the 1947 Orange Bowl and topping North Carolina in the 1950 Cotton Bowl. He finished his collegiate career as the school's record-holder with 156 points and 75 career extra points, marks that stood for more than 40 years.

As a senior, Williams earned first-team All-America honors after leading the Owls to their first 10-win season in school history and the No. 5 final ranking in the Associated Press poll.

The Owls went 6-0 in SWC play, registering back-to-back wins over top-10 teams SMU and Texas. Against Texas, Williams made the only field goal of his career as time expired to beat the Longhorns 17-15.

The success of that season boosted interest and expedited the construction of 70,000-seat Rice Stadium, which opened in time for the 1950 season.

New Rice athletic director Joe Karlgaard, right, is introduced to legendary Owls All-American James "Froggy" Williams, left, by Senior Executive Athletic Director Rick Mello before a college football game against Kanas at Rice Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, in Houston. Williams played as an end and kicker at Rice from 1946 to 1949 and became a member of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1965. less New Rice athletic director Joe Karlgaard, right, is introduced to legendary Owls All-American James "Froggy" Williams, left, by Senior Executive Athletic Director Rick Mello before a college football game ... more Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close 1949 Rice All-America star end Froggy Williams dead at 87 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

A Waco native, Williams was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1965.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Chapelwood United Methodist Church (11140 Greenbay) in Houston. Burial will be in Waco.

joseph.duarte@chron.com

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