Al Lolotai
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]
| No. 26, 30 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Guard |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | June 22, 1920 Western Samoa Trust Territory |
| Died: | September 30, 1990 (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 |
| Undrafted: | 1945 |
| Career history | |
| Player stats at PFR | |
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 after college.[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]
One of his sons, Tiloi, also attended 'Iolani School and then went to play football for the Colorado as a defensive tackle, lettering from 1974-76.
References
- Ruck, Rob. "Football's Polynesian moment: Samoa's athletic outliers are paying a steep price for their commitment to the game". Salon. Retrieved 5 Feb 2016.
- "First Tongan in the NFL Champions Education". Polynesian Cultural Center. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
- https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51748664/serving-in-hawaii5/
- "Al Lolotai". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 21, 2020.