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UH CIRCLE OF HONOR

UH Circle of Honor's newest members will be inducted at basketball tonight

STORY SUMMARY | READ THE FULL STORY

The memories are hazy, given the dust of some 65 years, but Robert Arakaki will never forget the bravery of his battalion commander Jack Johnson during the bloody Battle of Monte Cassino during World War II.

"I thought I was in the lead, but then I saw an American helmet ahead of me," Arakaki said. "It was Jack Johnson. That was the way he led, from the front."

Arakaki and Warren Iwai, veterans of the famed 100th Battalion, represented the late Johnson at yesterday's luncheon recognizing the newest inductees into the University of Hawaii's Circle of Honor. Johnson, former UH athletic director Ray Nagel and volleyball Olympians Heather Bown and Clay Stanley constitute the 27th class, which will be officially inducted during halftime of tonight's men's basketball game at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Johnson, a four-sport letterman at UH, was killed during the 1944 battle in Italy. He received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart posthumously.

— Cindy Luis



FULL STORY >>

By Cindy Luis

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 24, 2009

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Heather Bown said one of the reasons she gave up competitive swimming for competitive volleyball was that it was hard to talk when swimming laps.


Heather Bown:
Two-time All-
America middle
blocker and
Olympian was
humbled by
the honor

 

But when the two-time All-America middle blocker for Hawaii was told about being selected for the UH Circle of Honor, Bown was at a loss for words ... temporarily.

"It's surreal," Bown said in an e-mail from Italy, where she is playing professionally. "There's been so many great athletes that have passed through the athletic department that I would be humbled to even have a consideration for the Circle of Honor much less be chosen for it.

"I was bummed because I knew there was no way I would be able to be there to show my gratitude. It's such an honor to know that I made such an impact that I would be remembered from my early days as a young, obnoxious Wahine."

Bown is one of two Olympic volleyball players who are part of the 27th class. The other is former Warriors opposite Clay Stanley, who also missed yesterday's luncheon at sponsoring Bank of Hawaii because of playing commitments in Europe.

Joining the two are former UH athletic director Ray Nagel and, in the legends category, the late Jack Johnson, a four-sport letterman and captain of the 6-0 football team of 1934.


Jack Johnson:
A four-sport letter-
man and captain of
the 6-0 Hawaii foot-
ball team of 1934

 

Stanley's father, Jon, also a two-time Olympian, said his son's selection capped "a pretty good year for Clay."

Clay Stanley's Russian club team won the European Cup, with Stanley earning MVP honors. He helped Team USA sweep host Brazil en route to the World League title then was named MVP of the Olympics as the Americans won the gold.

"They say you're only as good as your last match," Jon Stanley said. "But this honor is something that will last forever."

Nagel, the only honoree to attend yesterday's luncheon, was equally appreciative.

"This is very special, really fun for me to be here," Nagel, the UH athletic director from 1976-83, said. "I can't imagine anything that I've enjoyed more."


Clay Stanley:
Helped the U.S.
team to the gold
medal in the
2008 Olympics
in Beijing

 

Alicia Bown said she was honored to represent her younger sister, a three-time Olympian who helped the U.S. to a silver medal in Beijing last summer.

"Hard to believe it's been 10 years since she played here," Alicia Bown said of the 1998 and 1999 Western Athletic Conference player of the year.

Bown read a note from her sister that read, in part, "The young girl that entered the Stan Sheriff Center years ago still lives in me. Every day I play for that little girl inside that fell in love with sport."

The four officially will be inducted during halftime of the men's basketball game tonight at the Sheriff Center.

Heather Bown said one of the reasons she gave up competitive swimming for competitive volleyball was that it was hard to talk when swimming laps.

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
The present met the past yesterday when, with current Hawaii athletic directer Jim Donovan looking on, former UH AD Ray Nagel was honored at the UH Circle of Honor luncheon.


Heather Bown:
Two-time All-
America middle
blocker and
Olympian was
humbled by
the honor

 

But when the two-time All-America middle blocker for Hawaii was told about being selected for the UH Circle of Honor, Bown was at a loss for words ... temporarily.

"It's surreal," Bown said in an e-mail from Italy, where she is playing professionally. "There's been so many great athletes that have passed through the athletic department that I would be humbled to even have a consideration for the Circle of Honor much less be chosen for it.

"I was bummed because I knew there was no way I would be able to be there to show my gratitude. It's such an honor to know that I made such an impact that I would be remembered from my early days as a young, obnoxious Wahine."

Bown is one of two Olympic volleyball players who are part of the 27th class. The other is former Warriors opposite Clay Stanley, who also missed yesterday's luncheon at sponsoring Bank of Hawaii because of playing commitments in Europe.

Joining the two are former UH athletic director Ray Nagel and, in the legends category, the late Jack Johnson, a four-sport letterman and captain of the 6-0 football team of 1934.


Jack Johnson:
A four-sport letter-
man and captain of
the 6-0 Hawaii foot-
ball team of 1934

 

Stanley's father, Jon, also a two-time Olympian, said his son's selection capped "a pretty good year for Clay."

Clay Stanley's Russian club team won the European Cup, with Stanley earning MVP honors. He helped Team USA sweep host Brazil en route to the World League title then was named MVP of the Olympics as the Americans won the gold.

"They say you're only as good as your last match," Jon Stanley said. "But this honor is something that will last forever."

Nagel, the only honoree to attend yesterday's luncheon, was equally appreciative.

"This is very special, really fun for me to be here," Nagel, the UH athletic director from 1976-83, said. "I can't imagine anything that I've enjoyed more."


Clay Stanley:
Helped the U.S.
team to the gold
medal in the
2008 Olympics
in Beijing

 

Alicia Bown said she was honored to represent her younger sister, a three-time Olympian who helped the U.S. to a silver medal in Beijing last summer.

"Hard to believe it's been 10 years since she played here," Alicia Bown said of the 1998 and 1999 Western Athletic Conference player of the year.

Bown read a note from her sister that read, in part, "The young girl that entered the Stan Sheriff Center years ago still lives in me. Every day I play for that little girl inside that fell in love with sport."

The four officially will be inducted during halftime of the men's basketball game tonight at the Sheriff Center.

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