James E . Lawrence James Edmund Lawrence ( October 10 , 1882 – May 18 , 1941 ) was an American football player . He played college football for the 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled an 11 – 0 record and outscored opponents 644 to 12 . He scored 113 points for the 1902 Michigan team , a figure which ranked among the five highest single - season point totals in Michigan history until 1940 and which still ranks among the top 10 scoring seasons by a Michigan player . In an October 8 , 1902 game against Michigan Agricultural College ( now known as Michigan State University ) , Lawrence set a Michigan record by converting 19 of 20 point after touchdown kicks . At the time of his death , " The New York Times " noted that Lawrence was " considered the greatest place - kicker the University of Michigan ever had . " Early years . Lawrence was born in October 1882 . His father , Marion Lawrence , was a Michigan native who was identified in the 1900 United States Census as a " capitalist " in Ypsilanti , Michigan . Lawrence had an older brother Don ( b . Sept . 1874 ) and two older sisters Harriet ( b . Nov . 1876 ) and Grace ( b . June 1879 ) . At the time of the 1900 Census , Lawrence ' s aunt , Josephine Kitchen , and a servant , Charlotte Brook , also lived with the family . Lawrence attended Ypsilanti High School where he played four years of football , two years at the tackle position and two years at the fullback position . According to one account , " At both places he was a whole team in himself . " University of Michigan . Lawrence enrolled in the engineering department at the University of Michigan in 1902 . As a freshman , he participated in tryouts for the football team held at Whitmore Lake , Michigan . Lawrence was six feet and one - half inches tall and weighed 187 pounds . Michigan ' s head coach Fielding H . Yost recognized that Lawrence had " the weight , speed , and nerve of a valuable man " and " all the qualities of a fullback " . The 1902 Michigan Wolverines football team won all 11 of its games and outscored opponents by a combined score of 644 to 12 . Lawrence appeared in 10 of the 11 games played by the team , missing only the Notre Dame game . He was the starting fullback in three games and appeared in other games at the tackle and guard positions . In 10 games for the 1902 Wolverines , Lawrence scored 113 points on 12 touchdowns ( scored as five points under 1902 rules ) and 53 point after touchdown ( " PAT ) conversions . Lawrence ' s 1902 point total ranked among the five highest single - season point totals in Michigan history until 1940 and still ranks among the top 10 scoring seasons by a Michigan player . In an October 8 , 1902 game against Michigan Agricultural College ( now known as Michigan State University ) , Lawrence set a Michigan record by converting 19 of 20 point after touchdown ( " PAT " ) kicks . Lawrence ' s game - by - game point totals were as follows : While Lawrence made a name for himself due to his scoring , he was also a valuable contributor on defense : " On defense he used his weight to a great advantage in breaking up interference and in supporting the line . " At the time of his death 39 years later , " The New York Times " noted that he was " considered the greatest place - kicker the University of Michigan ever had " . Later years . At the time of the 1910 United States Census , Lawrence was living in Pontiac , Michigan with his wife Nellie E . Lawrence . His occupation was listed as a draftsman in a factory . In a draft registration card completed in September 1918 , Lawrence indicated that he was living in Highland Park , Michigan , and employed by McCormack & Lawrence at the Free Press Building in Detroit . At the time of the 1920 United States Census , Lawrence was living in Highland Park with his wife Nellie and their nine - year - old son Robert . His occupation was listed as the secretary of a real estate company . By the time of the 1930 United States Census , Lawrence had moved to Los Angeles , California . He was living at 261 West Second Street with his wife Nellie S . Lawrence and their 19 - year - old son Robert S . Lawrence . His occupation was listed at that time as a real estate broker . Lawrence died in Los Angeles in May 1941 at age 58 .