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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, January 21, 2009

UH ADDS 4 TO CIRCLE OF HONOR
4 join UH Circle of Honor

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
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Two Beijing Olympic medalists, a former athletic director and a World War II veteran will be this year's inductees to the University of Hawai'i Sports Circle of Honor.

Volleyball stars Clay Stanley and Heather Bown, Ray Nagel, and John "Jack" Johnson Jr. will be officially announced as Sports Circle of Honor inductees at a luncheon Friday hosted by Bank of Hawai'i.

This is the 27th group to be enshrined, bringing the total inductees to 86, in a tradition that started in 1982 when the bank and UH partnered to recognize individuals and teams that have contributed to the growth, history and tradition of UH sports.

The four also will be introduced at halftime of Saturday's UH-San Jose State men's basketball game at the Stan Sheriff Center. They will also be honored at a reception prior to the game at the Ed Wong Hospitality Room.

Stanley, a Kaiser High alum who played for UH in 1997 and 1999-2000, is a two-time Olympian who helped the USA win gold in last summer's Olympic Games, earning tournament Most Valuable Player honors.

The 6-foot-9 outside hitter finished his career among the program's leaders in kills and aces. He holds the UH record for most kills in a match (50), set in a Mountain Pacific Sports Federation playoff match against UCLA in 1999.

He and father Jon became the first father-son duo to compete in the Olympics in U.S. men's volleyball history. Stanley is currently playing professionally in Russia.

Bown, who played for the Rainbow Wahine in 1998-99, is a three-time Olympian who helped the USA earn a silver medal — the team's highest-ever finish at the Olympics — in Beijing.

The 6-foot-3 middle blocker earned AVCA All-America honors and Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year both years at UH. She led the team to two NCAA Regional final appearances and ended her career among the program's leaders in hitting percentage, block solos, block assists and total blocks.

Bown, who is currently playing in Italy, will join Olympic teammate Robyn Ah-Mow-Santos in the UH Circle of Honor.

Nagel spent seven years as UH's athletic director and was instrumental in upgrading nearly every phase of the department to Division I standards. He spearheaded UH's admittance into the Western Athletic Conference in 1979.

He helped to obtain funds for numerous athletic facilities in the lower campus while increasing the school's exposure and upgrading community support.

Johnson, a Punahou School alum, was a multi-sport athlete at UH in the 1930s, starring for the football team from 1932-34.

A halfback, Johnson was captain of the 1934 team that finished 6-0 and defeated the California Golden Bears, 14-0, in the New Year's Day Classic. He also lettered in swimming, water polo, and soccer, where he was the team's most valuable player.

An active member of student affairs and ROTC, Johnson joined the National Guard upon graduation and was called to active duty with the 100th Infantry Battalion. He was one of a few non-Nisei members of the famed unit. In 1944, at the age of 29 and with a rank of major, Johnson was killed in action during the Battle of Monte Cassino. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.