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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Herman 'Hap' Kollmeyer, 85

Advertiser Staff

Herman Frank Kollmeyer

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Herman Frank Kollmeyer, a highly decorated veteran, businessman and active member of community organizations, died Nov. 10 in Honolulu. He was 85.

Kollmeyer, a longtime Honolulu resident known as "Hap" to friends, was born June 28, 1921, in Milwaukee, where he attended public schools before graduating from the University of Wisconsin.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and first came to Hawai'i in 1942 during World War II for advanced training before receiving his commission as a second lieutenant at Hickam Field in 1943.

During the next two years, he was awarded two Distinguished Flying Crosses, four Air Medals and three Battle Stars while accumulating 730 combat hours and carrying out 30 combat missions and 28 combat sea patrols.

Kollmeyer was promoted to captain in 1945, serving as Air Force base training officer at Wheeler Field. He left military service in 1946, but was recalled to active duty for Korean airlift missions from 1951 to 1953.

With his son, Keith, a professional golfer, Kollmeyer operated Pacific Sales Agency, a successful manufacturers representative company he started in 1951.

Kollmeyer was a member of the Honolulu Junior Chamber of Commerce that created the Miss Hawai'i beauty pageant, serving as master of ceremonies for the first two events.

He is credited with naming the Hawaii Islanders, Hawai'i's former minor league baseball team. Kollmeyer entered a 1960 contest to name the team and won two box seats behind home plate for the inaugural season at the old Honolulu Stadium on King and Isenberg streets.

Kollmeyer was a past master of the Schofield Masonic Lodge and a trustee for the Honolulu Scottish Rite Bodies, where he received the 33rd degree — its highest Masonic honor. He was an Aloha Temple Shriner and belonged to the Royal Order of Jesters, and in 1992 was designated a King Koko, only the seventh resident member to receive the honor.

A former Little League baseball official, Kollmeyer held memberships in the Honolulu Press Club and the Elks. He was a member of Waialae Country Club, and served on the Waialae-Iki board of directors.

Kollmeyer is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughter, Sharron; son, Keith; sister, Ruth; son-in-law, John Gerfen; two grandsons and three great-grand children.

Pending private funeral services are for family members only.