F . Stuart Wilkins F . Stuart " Stu " Wilkins ( born c . 1928 , Canton , Ohio ) is a former American football player , lawyer , and businessman . He played at the guard position for the University of Michigan football team from 1945 to 1948 and was a starter on the Wolverines undefeated teams in 1947 and 1948 . He practiced law for more than 50 years in Canton , Ohio . He was one of the leaders behind the establishment of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton , serving on the steering committee that prepared the presentation to the NFL , and serving for more than 40 years on its board of trustees . He also served as the chairman of the board of the American Automobile Association from 1989 to 1991 . Early years . Wilkins attended Lincoln High School in Canton , Ohio , where he was captain of the football team and class president during his senior year . He was selected by the Associated Press as a first - team All - Ohio tackle in 1944 . In announcing the selection , the AP praised Wilkins for his blocking and defensive work and noted that , because he was only 16 years old , he would be able to play two years of college football before reaching draft age . University of Michigan . Wilkins enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1945 and played for the Michigan Wolverines football team from 1945 to 1948 . Wilkins and Dominic Tomasi were the starting offensive guards for Fritz Crisler ' s undefeated 1947 team that became known as the " Mad Magicians " and has been selected by the " ESPN Big Ten College Football Encyclopedia " as the best team in the history of Michigan football . In December 1947 , the Associated Press wrote that Wilkins and Tomasi were the " equal if not the best " guard combination in the country and described them as " those powerful little offensive guards who make the offense click . " Wilkins also played for Bennie Oosterbaan ' s undefeated 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team that won an undisputed national championship . Legal career . After receiving his bachelor ' s degree , Wilkins attended the University of Michigan Law School and received his Juris Doctor degree . He was admitted to the bar in 1952 and began practicing law in his hometown , Canton , Ohio . Wilkins was an active lawyer in Canton for more than 50 years with a practice focusing on real estate , banking , and corporate law . Pro Football Hall of Fame . Wilkins was a charter member of the steering committee appointed to bring the Pro Football Hall of Fame to Canton . He assisted in preparing the presentation to the NFL which resulted in Canton being selected . In July 1960 , he was appointed as the organization ' s statutory agent and a founding member of the board of trustees . He also helped raise funds to finance the museum , prepared the organization ' s non - profit charter , constitution and by - laws , and drafted and negotiated all of the contracts for the museum . In 1964 , he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Canton Jaycees for his efforts in establishing the Hall of Fame in Canton . He was also named one of the five outstanding young men in Ohio by the Ohio Jaycees in 1964 . Funds were limited for the operation of the Hall of Fame in its early years , and in the mid - 1960s , Wilkins and Canton businessman , Bill Belden , had to sign a promissory note at Canton ' s First National Bank to enable the museum to meet its payroll . Wilkins has remained a member of its board of trustees for more than 45 years and served as the chairman of the board from 1984 to 1997 . Automobile Association of America . Wilkins also served as the vice chairman of the 30 - million member Automobile Association of America from 1987 to 1991 and the chairman for two terms from 1989 to 1991 .