Al Lolotai
refer to caption
Lolotai, circa 1947
No. 26, 30
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born:(1920-06-22)June 22, 1920
Western Samoa Trust Territory
Died:September 30, 1990(1990-09-30) (aged 70)
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:224 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:ʻIolani School (Honolulu, Hawaii)
College:Weber JC
Colorado A&M
Undrafted:1945
Career history
Player stats at PFR

Albert Lolotai (June 22, 1920 – September 30, 1990) was a Samoa-born American football offensive lineman. He played college football at Weber Junior College. Lolotai was the first Samoan American and Polynesian to play professional American football.[1]

Born in the Western Samoa Trust Territory, Lolotai grew up in Laie, Hawaii.[2] He attended Kahuku High School and graduated from 'Iolani School in Honolulu, Hawai'i. He then attended Weber Junior College (now Weber State University) in Ogden, Utah, playing on the Weber Wildcats football team from 1941 to 1942, and served in the Hawaii Territorial Guard during World War 2.[3] From 1945 to 1949, Lolotai played professional football, first in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins in 1945, then the Los Angeles Dons in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949, playing in 59 games with 32 starts and making one interception with Washington in 1945.[4]

Lolotai would eventually graduate from Colorado A&M, and with the founding of Church College of Hawaii in 1955, serve as its Athletic Director. He mentored many of the young Samoan football players coming up in the Laie community to keep up with their studies, get into good schools, and helped set them up for their future.

One of his sons, Tiloi, also attended 'Iolani School and then went to play football for Colorado as a defensive tackle, lettering from 1974-76.

References

  1. ↑ Ruck, Rob (5 February 2016). "Football's Polynesian moment: Samoa's athletic outliers are paying a steep price for their commitment to the game". Salon. Retrieved 5 Feb 2016.
  2. ↑ "First Tongan in the NFL Champions Education". Polynesian Cultural Center. 25 February 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Serving in Hawaii_5". The Signpost. 27 May 1943. p. 6.
  4. ↑ "Al Lolotai". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
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