EDWARD “SKIPPA” DIAZ received honors the legendary athlete, coach and teacher certainly deserved at his 68th birthday luncheon Feb. 17 at the Willows restaurant.

Family and friends, former athletes, past and present coaches, dignitaries, politicians, players he coached, students he taught and many ordinary people were included in the crowd of more than 300 that came to honor Skippa, who is suffering from cancer. He was smothered by so many lei that many had to be removed.

“I am overwhelmed and honored by the presence of so many and can feel the warmth of love and support that surround me,” Skippa said. “For that I am sincerely thankful. I will treasure this day always.”

Skippa is a 1962 grad of Farrington High School, where he was an all-star lineman and shot put champion. He set age-group swimming records as a Kalihi youngster because he was too heavy to play Pop Warner football and swam instead for Palama Settlement. The former 6-foot, 250-pound defensive tackle was a standout at Oregon State University, where he made the All Pac-10 team and played in the Hula Bowl. He also set shot put records at OSU. He graduated in 1968 and played pro football in Canada with the British Columbia Lions.

After that, Skippa went back to OSU to get his graduate degree. He then came home to coach and teach and eventually wound up back at Farrington, where he spent 21 years as a coach and teacher.

Before returning to Farrington, Skippa was at Waialua High where he met the former Mary Krause, a teacher from Wisconsin, in 1973. Mary only planned to stay in Hawaii for a year before she met “this handsome Hawaiian who sang and played guitar for me under a koa tree,” she said. Skippa and Mary, who he calls “the love of his life,” married in 1977.

The birthday extravaganza was planned and organized by Phil Nakayama, Diane Yoshida and emcee Alfred Torco. “The party was fantastic,” Mary said. A proclamation sent by Gov. Neil Abercrombie pronounced Feb. 17 as “Skippa Diaz Day.” Other proclamations were sent by Mayor Peter Carlisle, the City Council and the State Senate. The athletic and education worlds were well represented by Norm Chow, Tommy Lee, Keith Uperesa, Al Espinda, Harry Pacarro, Randall Okimoto, Alfredo Carganilla, Harold Tanaka, Agenhart Ellis, Darren Hernandez, Mike Chun, Keith Amemiya, Ben Aipa and Skippa’s teammates from FHS, college and Palama Settlement.

Politicians attending included Farrington grad Ben Cayetano, Mufi Hannemann, Sen. Mike Gabbard and City Council members Romy Cachola and Ann Kobayashi.

Among Farrington “somebodies” in the crowd were City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro. Entertainers Sam Kapu, Nephi Hannemann and Bobby King were there and Matt Levi, Bill Balfour, Tony Ah Yat, Darren Weaver and Bruce Coppa attended …

COOKIN’ WITH ALAN: “The Blue Tomato: The Inspirations Behind the Cuisine of Alan Wong,” by chef Alan Wong, co-written by Arnold Hiura and published by Watermark, is one of three finalists in the 26th annual International Association of Culinary Professionals Cookbook Awards in the Chefs & Restaurants category. The IACP awards program recognizes excellence and innovation in the culinary industry. Past honorees include The French Laundry’s Thomas Keller and the one and only Julia Child. That’s hot ’n’ tasty company. The awards will be presented in 18 categories April 2 in New York …

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Ben Wood, who sold newspapers on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things. Email him at bwood@staradvertiser.com.