USAWA

By John McKean

(Webmasters comments: Thank you John for sharing your memories of the late Jim Malloy. I encourage others to send me their memories of Jim as well, so I can share them on this website.)

Jim was always a warm ,loveable guy, but tried to “hide” it with his gruff, steel worker manner & “colorful” method of speaking! His subtle humor during conversation had to be experienced to appreciate it! For instance, He, Chris Waterman, and I were gabbing at a VFW meet, when Chris mentioned training since his early teens with Jim. Chris commented, “I guess I was a fairly obnoxious youth and it sure took Jim a long time to warm up to me!” Jim never changed expressions but quickly added, “No, Chris, I NEVER liked you! Not even now!” Chris’ mouth dropped open (till he realized he’d been “had” by the ole master), and the rest of us howled!

Another time, Jim showed up at a record day meet at our club, sputtering & moaning all the way down the stairway to the gym. No one had any doubt by the unique colorful phrases that it was Jim approaching. It seems that Scott Schmidt and his wife picked up Jim at his home in Cleveland that morning,telling him they were taking him shopping at a local mall, then “kidnapped” him down to Ambridge for Art’s birthday meet! Loudly complaining the entire time, Jim ignored his injuries, aches, and pains to set a bunch of records!

I think Jim got a kick out my two sons when they were lifting as pre-teens ; Sean & Rob always referred to him as that “Missing Link” guy! Certainly they’d never seen anyone that strong, gruff, and hairy !!