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You are here: Home / Winged “O” / Winged “O” Thomas Martin Arnott

Winged “O” Thomas Martin Arnott

Arnott, Tomweb
Tom Arnott

Joined OCC: 1931

Elected to Winged “O”: January 15, 1968

Oral History

When he was 17 years old and a football star and 440-man at Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, Tom Arnott became a member of the Outrigger Canoe Club. In the ensuing years, Tom’s participation, loyalty and devotion to the OCC never diminished.

Born on August 26, 1921, Tom’s athletic achievements during the 40s were awesome. Being a member of the unbeaten six-man crew of 1943-1949, which was coached by the immortal Duke Kahanamoku, was one of his proudest accomplishments as an athlete.

1943 Macfarlane Regatta Senior Men Duke Kahanamoku, Thad Ekstrand, Jim Fernie, Carlos Rivas, Tom Arnott, Tommy O'Brien
1943 Walter J. Macfarlane Canoe Regatta Senior Men Duke Kahanamoku, Thad Ekstrand, Jim Fernie, Carlos Rivas, Tom Arnott, Tommy O’Brien

He teamed up with Sargent Kahanamoku in 1947 to win the Outrigger Canoe Club volleyball doubles championship and was untouchable in combination with Jimmy Pflueger in 1942-1945 doubles paddling competition.

Later crewing for Duke, he and Duke were winners in the Lipton Cup S Boat Class races. Tom also crewed on the Outrigger-sponsored Kamali`i in three Trans-Pacific yacht races.

For more than 25 years, Tom aided in the annual Molokai to Oahu canoe race, staffing both the pick-up boat and the escort boat from the days when our crews paddled the entire race ironman with no changes.

Duke Kahanamoku, Tom Arnott, Jim Pfleuger
Duke Kahanamoku, Tom Arnott, Jim Pfleuger

Tom Arnott was an unselfish team player. He carried that same spirit into his participation in other activities and duties of the Club.  After serving on almost every Club committee, Tom rose to the Club Presidency in 1966. He had previously served as Club Captain from 1963-1965, Treasurer, and Vice-President.

In the business world he was Pacific-Division General Manager for the Carnation Company.

Tom served as Club Captain in 1963-64 and was elected to the Outrigger Canoe Club Board of Directors, where he served as President for two terms, 1966-1968.

No one in our Club was more deserving of the Winged “O” honor than “Big Tom” Arnott, a tried and true sportsman.

Tom passed away on January 8, 2000.

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