Chui's many roles at UH included AD
Advertiser Staff
Edward F. "Ed" Chui, who served as a coach, professor, department chairman and athletic director over parts of five decades at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, died Saturday.
He was 78.
CHUI
Chui had the distinction of twice serving as athletic director in stints 14 years apart. Both times the school brought him in to provide a steady hand during times of crisis.
In 1961, he took over during a budget crunch that had already prompted the school to drop football because of a $10,000 deficit. A year later, the school was able to resume the sport against a mix of local clubs and Mainland teams.
Chui represented UH at the 1962 NCAA Convention and successfully fought for full-fledged membership for the school before the NCAA Council.
In 1975, he became interim athletic director following the resignation of Paul Durham. Chui held the position until Ray Nagel took more than a year later.
Afterward, a UH administrator said the reason Chui was given the position was because he was the chief negotiator for the American Association of University Professors and school officials hoped the difficulty of the AD job would force him to quit.
Despite the trying times, "He was a very pleasant man; a nice man to work with," said Marge Okimoto, the athletic department's executive secretary.
"He was a hands-on administrator who worked with his staff," said Ed Inouye, former UH sports information director.
Chui also served as chairman of the physical education department from 1965-74. "He was very serious about his job and well-respected," recalled Jimmy Asato, who also taught there.
Chui's passion was golf and he twice served as the school's golf coach, from 1958-65 and 1982-89.
Chui, a graduate of McKinley High, received three degrees from Iowa, where he also played football for a season until his career was cut short by injury.
He survived by wife Leonor "Elly," sons Aaron and Lorne, daughter Aprilani McIlwrath and six grandchildren.
Memorial services are tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Honpa Hongwanji.
