Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame
Athlete 1961 - 1965
Regarded as one of the finest defensive ends in the small-college circuit, Tony Ah Yat, Class of 1965, never avoided contact. The late coach Paul Durham called him hard-nosed and aggressive every time he walked onto the football field.
Ah Yat was a four-year starter in football and a member of Linfield's 1961, 62 and 64 conference title teams. He was the only freshman starter on the Camellia Bowl team.
He helped coach the Wildcats as a graduate student. In 1965, with Durham as coach, Linfield reached the NAIA championship final against St. Johns (Minn.)
Ah Yat twice earned NAIA District II honors in 1963, and 64 and was a three-time all-Pacific Coast all-star. He received NAIA and Associated Press All-America honors as a senior as well. His teammates selected him as the best defensive and most inspirational player.
After graduation, he played for the semi-pro Portland Thunderbirds, and again was singled out as the most outstanding defensive player.
While at Linfield, he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education and later obtained his master's degree in education.
I attribute my success at Linfield to good people who supported me, coached me and befriended me, Ah Yat said. Coach Durham is at the top of the list along with my many Linfield teammates and friends.
After moving back to his home state of Hawaii, he worked as a teacher for 34 years before retiring in 2004. While teaching and coaching football at Kalani High School, he became the winningest coach in school history from 1971 to 76. He also coached at five other high schools, including his alma mater, Kamehameha.
He and his wife, Aileen, have been married for 36 years and live in Honolulu. Today, they own and operate the Great Harvest Bakery in Kailua. The Ah Yats have three grown sons, Paul (named after Paul Durham, his godfather), Brian and Akoni; and four grandchildren.
