Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 14, Number 3, 1 March 1999 — PASSINGS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PASSINGS

Hemian Wedemeyer, an outstanding Hawaiian athlete and leader, passed away on Jan. 25. He was 74- Wedemeyer, a sports iegend both locally and nationally, was the first Native Hawaiian All-American football player and is the only player from Hawai'i in the College Football Hall of Fame. A Hilo native, he was affectionately known as "Hula Hips" and "Squirmin' Herman" for

his football prowess at St. Louis High School, St, Mary's College and professionally with the Los Angeles Dons. A knee injury prematurelv ended his career with the Baltimore Colts, but Wedemeyer's achievements did not stop with football. He went on to become an actor in "Hawai'i Five-0," a Honolulu city eouneilman and a state representative. According to Wedemeyer's sister, Winona Gaison, an OHA receptionist, "For me and my family, we believe he was the best athlete out of Hawai'i. He was just an all-around person." Wedemeyer is survived by his wife Carol, six children, five sisters, three brothers, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. ■

Herman Wedemeyer 1924-1999