HONOLULU – Tony Randolph, a member of the Chaminade University men's basketball squads who were known as the "Giant Killers" in the mid-1980s, passed away on March 6. He was 63.
Randolph, who wore a Silverswords' uniform from 1982-85, ranks fifth all-time in scoring with 1,549 points and fourth in rebounds with 776, one of just five Chaminade players with 1,500 career points and 700 rebounds. In his final season, Randolph set career highs with 610 points and 287 boards.
The native of Staunton, Virginia, arrived at Chaminade as a sophomore in 1982 after transferring from Panhandle State in Oklahoma and, in what turned out to be one his highest profile games, faced No. 1 Virginia and Ralph Sampson, the 7-foot-4 consensus national player of the year, on Dec. 23, 1982.
That fateful night, the Silverswords shocked the college basketball world with their 77-72 upset at the Blaisdell Center. Randolph held Sampson, a fellow Virginian whom he faced several times in high school, to just nine shots while scoring a team-high 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the floor.
But the upsets didn't stop. A little over a year later, on Dec. 26, 1983, Randolph posted 22 points, knocking down 8-of-14 shots, while pulling down eight boards in an 83-73 win over 14th-ranked Louisville. The following year, the Silverswords' legacy of "Giant Killers" was cemented in back-to-back shockers. Randolph had 13 points in their second upset of Louisville, this time ranked No. 15, in a 67-65 final on Dec. 22, 1984. Two days later, he had scored 14 in their 71-70 victory over third-ranked SMU. Randolph and the rest of the 1982-83 team were inducted into the Chaminade Hall of Fame in 2013.
Randolph loved Hawai'i, its people and unique culture and made Ewa Beach, O'ahu his forever home. He married Diane Bulosan-Randolph, his loving wife of 35 years. He dedicated himself to helping the youth of Hawai'i and worked as a counselor in the Hawaii State family court system for 21 years, working with troubled youth at the Alder Street Detention Home (now located in Kapolei) and Home Maluhia. He was named the state of Hawaii judiciary employee of the year in 2002. In a Honolulu Star-Advertiser article about this accolade, then-Chief Justice Ronald Moon "gave a speech that touched my heart," Randolph said. "He said that Chaminade will always be remembered as the champions of the underdogs."
According to Diane, he described his pregame mental preparation as taking on an alter ego. He believed this focus during the games gave him the fearlessness needed to win. Randolph continued to guide and encourage young people as the Dean of Discipline at Saint Francis School and assistant basketball coach. He ended his employment path at Cutter-Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep as a client relations representative and a shuttle driver "extraordinaire", where he continued to affect clients with his empathy and positivity. He especially loved connecting with the "kupuna" clients and enjoyed listening to their stories describing the Honolulu of yesteryear.
Randolph also gave back to the sport of basketball on the island, serving as an assistant coach for several high school teams while volunteering his coaching knowledge and player development skills with the Special Olympics.
He also had a love for plants and challenged himself by growing an assortment of potted plumerias, pineapples and bougainvillea, along with other plants gifted to him from Cutter clients who shared the same passion. According to Diane, tending to, harvesting and eating the homegrown pineapples gave him a sense of satisfaction, despite the long months it took to grow.
Along with Diane, Randolph is survived by his son, Lorenzo Randolph; brother Stanford Louis Randolph (Kimberly) of Maryland; sister Patricia "Patsy" Jones of Ohio; Margaret Ann Randolph of Maryland; Jaqueline Marcia Randolph of Washington, D.C.; Sandy Maria Randolph Fitzpatrick of Virginia; many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws, especially his loving mother-in-law, Marciana Bulosan, hanai mom and best friend forever; and hanai sisters, Debbie, Donna, Darlene, Marcia, and Michele.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles William Randolph, Sr. and Eva Belle Jones Randolph; siblings, Glenn Jones, Charles William Randolph, Jr., Barbara Harris, Mildred Lucille Randolph; and beloved father-in-law, Basilio "Mike" Bulosan, fishing buddy and fellow plant enthusiast.
