In the annals of our island’s sports it will be recorded that Walter Holt was one of Hawaii’s most gifted all-around athletes. A full 12-year student at Punahou, he capped his career by winning an impressive total of 11 letters. This began in his freshman year when he won his first of four letters in baseball. An outstanding pitcher and shortstop, he captained the team in 1924, winning All Star recognition.This article appears as originally published in the Spring 1997 issue of the Punahou Bulletin.
In football he was a standout as a two-year letterman at end on both offense and defense, winning All Star honors in both his junior and senior years. His prowess in track garnered another two letters – in the high jump and in the discus, his specialty. A three-year letter man in swimming, he was a consistent point winner in the sprint and relay events.
At the University of Hawaii he again won 11 letters. (He was in a rut!) Three each were won in football, baseball and track and “only” two in basketball.
Following is a quotation from the UH football staff: “Came on the scene in his freshman year as a sub-wingman and was a secondary weapon behind the famed ‘Four Horsemen’ of the 1925 season. Played offensive and defensive end, quarterback, kick returner and even did some kicking. An all-around good player who threw for touchdowns, caught touchdown passes, ran for touchdowns and returned interceptions for touchdowns. One record in the 1928 yearbook shows he returned 65 yards for a touchdown vs. Occidental on November 24, 1927.”
In baseball he was capable of playing any infield position. His track events included the 440-yard dash, high jump, broad jump, discus and his forté, the javelin throw, which he won in the 1927 AAU Championship meet. Letters in basketball were won at center and guard.
Following graduation from the University, he played three years at end for the “Town Team” of the Honolulu Senior Football league. Interestingly, one of the Town Team’s other key end was Noel “Hawkshaw” Howell, Punahou ’27.