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James 'Froggy' Williams, 1949 Rice All-American, dies at 87

HOUSTON -- James "Froggy" Williams, a 1949 All-America end on Rice's 1949 Southwest Conference football championship squad, has died. He was 87.

A family statement Wednesday says Williams died Tuesday at his Houston home surrounded by loved ones.

The Waco native led the Owls to a Cotton Bowl win over North Carolina, ending his career with 156 points that stood as a school record for 40 years. His 75 career extra points remained the school record until 1998.

Williams was a consensus first-team All-American at end that 10-win season when Rice finished fifth in The Associated Press poll. That season cultivated such interest that then-proposed Rice Stadium was expanded to 70,000 seats.

The funeral is Saturday in Houston with burial in Waco.