Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist/editor Royal Brougham created the Man of the Year sports award in early 1936. The Man of the Year became the Sports Star of the Year in 1977, and currently honors the Professional Athlete of the Year, Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, and Sports Story of the Year.
In the beginning, men and women were lumped together on one ballot. These were the nominees from the early years of the awards program, 1935-39 (winner in bold face). The number behind a nominee’s name indicates the times he(or she had appeared on the ballot.
| Year | Nominees | Sport | Skinny |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Dick Barrett | Baseball | Star pitcher for Seattle Indians |
| Tom Bolles | Rowing | Leading oarsman for UW Huskies | |
| Scotty Campbell | Golf | PNGA Men’s Amateur champion | |
| Ray Daughters | Swimming | Coached UW All-America Jack Medica | |
| Hec Edmundson | Basketball | Coached Huskies to 16-8 record | |
| Frank Foyston | Hockey | Coached Sea Hawks to league title | |
| Jack Medica | Swimming | Swept 3 events in NCAA competition | |
| Bobby Morris | Referee | Officiated 1935 Rose Bowl game | |
| Hank Prusoff | Tennis | Reached No. 8 U.S. singles rank | |
| Hannes Schroll | Skiing | Won U.S. National Downhill title | |
| Bill Smith | Football | All-Coast end for the UW Huskies | |
| Freddie Steele | Boxing | Became top 5 middleweight contender | |
| 1936 | Dick Barrett (2) | Baseball | Posted 22-13 record for Rainiers |
| Ralph Bishop | Basketball | UW center won gold in Berlin Games | |
| Leon Brigham | Football | Coach of the Garfield Bulldogs | |
| Jimmy Cain | Football | UW All-Coast running back | |
| Scotty Campbell (2) | Golf | Played for U.S. Walker Cup team | |
| Ray Daughters (2) | Swimming | Coached J. Medica to Olympic win | |
| Hec Edmundson (2) | Basketball | Huskies posted a 25-7 record | |
| Frank Foyston (2) | Hockey | Coached Sea Hawks (NWHL) | |
| Don Hume | Rowing | Won gold medal at Berlin Olympics | |
| Jack Medica (2) | Swimming | Won 3 medals at Berlin Olympics | |
| Bob Moch | Rowing | Won gold medal at Berlin Olympics | |
| Jimmy Phelan | Football | Coached Huskies to Rose Bowl | |
| Freddie Steele (2) | Boxing | Became NBAW middleweight champ | |
| Al Ulbrickson | Rowing | Coached Huskies to gold in Berlin | |
| 1937 | Mrs. Del Barkoff | Badminton | 1st woman nominated for MOY |
| Dick Barrett (3) | Baseball | Won 20 games for Seattle Indians | |
| Leon Brigham (2) | Football | Successful Garfield High coach | |
| John Cherberg | Football | Coached Queen Anne High | |
| Hec Edmundson (3) | Basketball | Coached UW to 15-11 record | |
| Bud Ericksen | Football | UW center from 1935-37 | |
| Al Hostak | Boxing | Became middleweight contender | |
| Don Hume (2) | Rowing | Star oarsmen for UW Huskies | |
| Mike Hunt | Baseball | Star home run hitter for Indians | |
| Otto Lang | Skiing | Founded 1st ski school at Mt. Rainier | |
| Vic Markov | Football | All-Coast tackle for UW Huskies | |
| Jimmy Phelan (2) | Football | Coached UW in Pineapple Bowl | |
| George Pocock | Rowing | Designed revolutionary racing shells | |
| Freddie Steele (3) | Boxing | Defended world middleweight title | |
| Al Ulbrickson (2) | Rowing | Defending champ nominated again | |
| Leslie Wilkins | Basketball | Coached at Lakeside School for boys | |
| 1938 | Leon Brigham (3) | Football | Successful Garfield coach |
| Gus Ericksen | Rowing | Outstanding UW oarsman | |
| Don Fraser | Skiing | Pacific Northwest slalom champ | |
| Al Hostak (2) | Boxing | Won world middleweight crown | |
| Fred Hutchinson | Baseball | Went 25-7 for Seattle Rainiers | |
| Jimmy Johnston | Football | Top Husky running back | |
| Bill Lawrence | Baseball | Outstanding Rainiers outfielder | |
| Jack Lelivelt | Baseball | Managed Seattle Rainiers | |
| Don McIntosh | Football | Outstanding UW center | |
| Emil Sick | Baseball | Owner of the Seattle Rainiers | |
| 1939 | Ellis Coder | Rowing | Outstanding Husky oarsman |
| Bill Haroldson | Football | Coached Roosevelt High team | |
| Al Hostak (3) | Boxing | World middleweight champion | |
| Jack Lelivelt (2) | Baseball | Managed Rainiers to PCL title | |
| Dean McAdams | Football | Star back for UW Huskies | |
| Rudy Mucha | Football | Star lineman for UW Huskies | |
| Henry Prusoff (2) | Tennis | Nationally ranked in singles | |
| Jo Jo White | Baseball | Hit .287 for Seattle Rainiers | |
| Dirk Yeager | Badminton | National caliber performer |