James Joy Miller James Joy Miller ( May 26 , 1886 - December 31 , 1965 ) was an American football player . Biography . Miller was born in Detroit , Michigan in 1886 . His father , James G . Miller , was the secretary of the Union Depot Railroad in Detroit . Miller attended Detroit Central High School where he won varsity letters in football , baseball and basketball . The " Detroit Free Press " called him " one of the best known athletes Detroit ever has turned out . " Miller was considered one of Detroit ' s best basketball players on defense and played end for Detroit Central ' s football team . The " Free Press " in 1907 described his high school football career as follows : " Joy Miller was one of the best ends that ever played on the Central High school ; valuable on both attack and defense , a sure tackler and powerful in the interference . Plays sent around his end usually went to pieces for little or no gain , and opposing backs have reason to remember the vigor and certainty of his tackling . " In addition to playing for Detroit Central High School , Miller also played football and basketball for the Detroit Athletic Club teams . Miller enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1906 but was not eligible to play varsity football until his sophomore year in 1907 . He played in several games for the 1907 Michigan Wolverines football team , including the rivalry game against the University of Pennsylvania . He started three games for the 1907 team , two at the left end position and one at the left halfback position . Despite having played a substantial part in several games , team captain Paul Magoffin did award Miller a varsity " M " in 1907 . Miller elected not to play football in 1908 , but he returned to the football team in 1909 . In 1909 , Miller started all seven games for the Wolverines , six at right end and one at quarterback . He played the first seven games at the end position and was switched to quarterback without notice to quarterback for the season ' s final game against the University of Minnesota . According to the " Detroit Free Press " , " Miller won a high place in the admiration of his teammates through his stellar work at quarterback in the Minnesota game . " At the end of the 1909 season , Miller was elected by his teammate to be captain of the 1910 team . However , in December 1910 , Miller became embroiled in a scandal that attracted national newspaper coverage when it was discovered that he had played the 1909 football season without registering for or attending classes during the fall semester . The Board in Control of Athletics stripped him of his selection as team captain and his varsity letter in December 1909 . Following an investigation and resolution of the University of Michigan Student Council , the University of Michigan Engineering Faculty expelled Joy from the university in January 1910 . Joy disappeared for several months during and after the investigation and expulsion and was discovered in March 1910 wandering in western Canada . Joy claimed to have lost all memory of his identity and past events . In a draft registration card completed by Miller in September 1918 , he indicated that he was a resident of Highland Park , Michigan , working in the moving and storage business . At the time of the 1920 Census , James J . Miller , age 33 , was a resident of Highland Park , Michigan , along with his wife Edith , son Henry L . , and daughter Janet . He listed his occupation as vice president of a storage company . At the time of the 1930 Census , James J . Miller , age 43 , was a resident of Grosse Ile , Michigan , along with his wife Edith , son Leonard , and daughter Janet . He listed his occupation as vice president of a warehouse .