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Monday, March 27, 2000
Attorney new
head for isle
bowl games
Directors Marcia and Lenny
By Paul Arnett
Klompus turn over Aloha and
Oahu bowl duties to Fritz Rohlfing
Star-BulletinA few days before the kickoff of last December's Christmas Day doubleheader, Bowl Games Hawaii directors Marcia and Lenny Klompus sent signals that their lives were about to move in a different direction.
Three months later, the Klompuses handed off the day-to-day control of the Aloha and Oahu bowls to their attorney, Fritz Rohlfing.
"We just got to the point where we wanted to do something else besides these football games," Marcia Klompus said last night. "We've been doing this for nearly 20 years. It was time for a change."
Just what the Klompuses will do remains to be seen. They will stay involved in the two Christmas Day games and the Hula Bowl on Maui, but will spend more time exploring other avenues in sports, entertainment and the public sector.
"There are clearly opportunities here that we haven't had a chance to focus on due to our day-to-day involvement in these three games," Lenny Klompus said.
"It will be nice to have an executive director for two games and Fritz is very knowledgeable about the two Christmas Day games.
"He has been with us for nine years in the negotiations with ABC-TV and ESPN, so they know who he is and are comfortable working with him."
The Klompuses plan to spend more time on Maui developing events for War Memorial Stadium. They also would like to dabble in the TV production and film opportunities that may be coming Hawaii's way.
"There has been talk that a TV (production) truck will be built here to expand Hawaii's opportunities in the film industry and we would maybe like to be involved in working in that area," Lenny Klompus said.
"I've also been approached to do things in the public sector, so we're taking a look at those things down the line. We feel very good because we have a bright young guy who can take these games to another level."
As the new executive director, Rohlfing will work directly in the management of the two bowl games. Lenny Klompus recently completed a new five-year contract with ABC and ESPN.
Jeep is signed on as the title sponsor for several more seasons and Klompus already is close to signing a deal that will allow him the fourth pick from the ACC and the Big East to match up with the fourth and fifth choices from the Pac-10.
"Having worked with the game for over nine years, I'm extremely excited about this opportunity," Rohlfing said.
"It's a great game for promoting Hawaii. I also have a great love for college athletics and football is my favorite sport, so it all comes together well."
Rohlfing is married with four children. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Mission Houses Museum and is a graduate of Punahou School and Dartmouth College in economics. Rohlfing received his law degree at the University of Chicago.
