Lenny Klompus 2001 Post Game Interview (Un-Cut RealAudio)
Leonard (Lenny) Klompus, Chairman/CEO
Known as the driving force behind the success of the Hula Bowl Maui, Lenny
Klompus attributes his many accomplishments for Maui County and the State of Hawaii
to just one thing... PURE LOVE OF THE GAME.
With nearly 30 years of experience in the sports marketing industry, including television
and radio production, advertising, public relations and fundraising, Lenny is a pioneer
in the sports industry and the "idea-man" behind the organization.
Washington Post and Sports Illustrated writer Bill Taaffe labeled Lenny as a "sports
impresario", as he initiated many "first" as... games on cable/broadcast simultaneously
(before ESPN); live basketball games from Japan; syndicated a basketball game for two
school TV networks simultaneously; conference basketball tournament before networks;
interstate radio networks for college/NFL teams; and "lasts"... chosen to produce Bear
Bryants last football game, just to name a few.
Serving as a consultant to Hawaii's Bowl Games in 1978, as well as the Executive Producer
and syndicator for the first-ever Hula Bowl Radio Network, he worked in obtaining the needed
initial NCAA certification for the Aloha Bowl in 1982 and paved the way for 18 years of great
post-season collegiate football, while increasing the visibility and exposure for the
state of Hawaii. He created college football's first-ever doubleheader with the addition
of the Jeep O'ahu Bowl to the Christmas Classic tradition, making it still the only
football doubleheader in the Nation. He left his position in March of 2000, to turn his
full attention to Maui's Hula Bowl All-Star Football Classic.
His unflagging drive to enhance Hawaii's stature in post-season collegiate football has
lead to these daring feats, just to name a few.
- Relocating the 56-year old Hula Bowl Maui All-Star Football Classic from its home
at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu to Maui's War Memorial Stadium (helped enhance stadium to
an NCAA venue), where since the move, all four games have been sold-out.
- Successfully negotiated exclusive agreements with the American Football Coaches
Association and the Downtown Atheletic Club, (home of the Heisman Trophy), as corporate
partners with the Hula Bowl Maui.
- Re-inventing the Honolulu Advertisers Pigskin Picks and The Honolulu Star Bulletin
Football Fever Contests
To bring further prestige to the State of Hawaii, Lenny created the Mosi Tatupu Special
Teams Award, recognizing the NCAA's Best Special Team Player in the Country. This is
announced on ESPN each year along with awards for all positions. This prestigious trophy
award is presented to the winner at the annual Hula Bowl Maui football game.
As Chariman/CEO, Lenny's biggest responsibility is negotiating the contracts for the many
corporate partnerships including television, radio and title sponsors. His personal attention
to everyone's needs is one of the reasons corporate partners return year after year.
His dissatisfaction with "business as usual" or "this is the way it has always been done"
or "it can never happen" has opened the doors for many more opportunities, all of which
continue to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into Hawaii's economy year after year.
In January
2000, the Honolulu Star Bulletin named Lenny and his wife and business
partner,
Marcia Klompus,
one of the 10 Most Influential Sports Icons in Hawaii.
In June of 2000 Marcia and Lenny received the All-American Football Foundation Award as
Bowl Executives of the Year. Lenny is dedicated to helping the community of Maui, as he
sits on the board for the Center for Entrepreneurship at Maui Community College, Maui
United Way, The Boy Scouts of Maui, The Arthritis Foundation of Maui and the Maui Mall
Moreover, Lenny has recently been appointed Director of the new
Maui Visitors Bureau Sports Development Division
which is dedicated to promotion and marketing Maui County
as a premier multi-purpose "host" sports destination for professional, collegiate and
amateur events.
Lenny finds time in his schedule to broadcast four sports radio programs per week,
on four different stations statewide, including his "This Week in College Football" on
KMVI 55-AM every Wednesday evening during the season from 5:00-6:00pm HST.
Marcia Klompus - Executive Director
Lenny Klompus - Chief Executive Officer
Joe Amdor - Assistant Executive Director
Jessica Tawney - Ticket Manager
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