Mel Tom, who played in the NFL despite never playing high school football, died Thursday. He was 64.

Born in Honolulu, Tom attended Maryknoll, which doesn't have a football program. However, he became one of the state's best basketball players.

Tom first played football at San Jose State College and was drafted in the sixth round by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was their Most Valuable Player in 1968 and was traded to Chicago five years later.

Tom used to play volleyball in the offseason to keep in shape.

He lived in Kailua, Kona.

Tom's daughter, Logan, was a volleyball All-American at Stanford and also played in the Olympics.

Tom is survived by companion, Carol Lieban; son, Landon; daughter, Logan; sisters, Harmony Chock, Moana Scanlan and Frances Akau; hanai sister, Georgiann Navarro. Service is private. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary, Kona.