The Centurions: #25 Skippy Dyer

The Star-Bulletin's countdown of UH football's "Centurions", the 100 greatest players in the University of Hawaii's 100 years of football, continues with #25, halfback Skippy Dyer.

Lyle Nelson profiles Dyer.

Combine Gary Allen and Chad Owens and what do you get?

Many old-time Hawaii football fans would say Skippy Dyer.

Perhaps no greater all-around running back ever wore the green and white than Dyer of the 1955 and 1956 teams.

First, he was tremendous on kickoff and punt returns, demoralizing opponents and thrilling the crowd like Owens did nearly a half-century later.

But unlike Owens, Dyer bit off large chunks of yardage from scrimmage as a halfback.

Also, does anyone know what became of Dyer?

"We've tried and tried, but can't locate him," Araki said. "The last we know is someone thought he was with the L.A. parks and recreation department in the '60s. But they had no record of him.

Araki said Dyer was beloved by his teammates and had many friends at UH and throughout the state.

"We have many get-togethers over the years, and the question is always, 'Where's Skippy?' He was a real nice fella, got along with everyone on campus. You would think somebody like that would come back."

No one seems to know where James "Skippy" Dyer is, or even if he is alive.