Raymond Erle Melim (1928)

Following are the highlights of his athletic career: Track: Three Letters, 19925 – 26 – 27.

In 1927 ILH Championship Meet: won 100- and 200-yard dashes; 220-yard low hurdles and anchored the winning half-mile relay team.

Captain of the 1927 team. In 1926 anchored half-mile record-breaking relay team. Never defeated in hurdles in three years. Held 220-yard low hurdles record until broken by John Kneubuhl, Punahou ’38.

Football: Three Letters 1924 – 25 – 26.

1924: Was substitute behind Albert Lemes, the ILH All Star quarterback of the 1924 Championship team. (The next championship was in 1953 − 29 years later!)

1925 – 26: Made ILH Coaches All Star first team both years.

1927: Early Spring, elected co-captain of the ’27 team.

Other Honors: In 1925 ILH coaches selected Al Lemes and Ray Melim as quarterbacks of their mythical All Star team.

In 1934 the Punahou O-Men Club All Star Selection Committee for the 1925 – 34 decade selected Ray Melim as quarterback.

Swimming: Two Letters, 1926 – 27. Team diver.

Ray left Punahou early in his final year of ILH competition (’27 – ’28) to enter the Prep School of the U.S. Naval Academy to prepare for Naval Academy entrance exams. Had he stayed at Punahou, he undoubtedly would have set many more ILH track records. He had received appointments to both Annapolis and West Point.

Post-Punahou: Unfortunately, because family needs required his presence at home, Ray had to decline his appointment to Annapolis. He continued his sports career in Honolulu.

It included: Football: Quarterback for the Town Team in the Hawaii Senior Football League.

Track: Continued to star in his favorite events in the annual Rainbow Relays and Hawaiian AAU meets as a member of the Outrigger Canoe Club’s track teams.

Other: One of the founders and coach of the Waimanalo Athletic Club. Assisted in coaching at Punahou. Appointed assistant track coach at Roosevelt High School and officiated at track meets for many years.