"What he has done is almost unequaled in the nation. ...
I expect Jim will continue working on St. Jude until he takes his last breath."
-Mike McCoy, Peoria County Sheriff
Born: Oct. 18, 1919, in Peoria
Education: Graduated from Spalding High School in 1937.
Personal: Married Gertrude Burson June 28, 1941. She died
March 29, 2001. Four children: J. Michael, Mark, Nicholas, and Janice.
Military: Served with U.S. Army Air Corps, acting master sergeant,
1943-1946.
Professional: President, Maloof Cleaners, 1946 to 1968; founder, President and Chairman, Jim Maloof / Realtor®, 1968 to present.
Achievements: Mayor of Peoria, 1985 to 1997; chairman of the board and founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate, Methodist Medical Center, 1972 to present; national executive vice president American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities/ St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., 1973 to 1974; original member of the Peoria Civic Center Commission; chairman legislative committee, Illinois Municipal League; Illinois Human Rights Commission, 1997 to 2003; past president Kiwanis Club South-West Peoria; chairman Christian education fund drive, St. Philomena Church; chairman Bradley University athletic fund drive; chairman St. Jude Telethon 1978 to present.
Awards and honors: WEEK Tom Connor Award; Pope John XXIII award; B'nai B'rith Man of the Year, entered into the Congressional Record; special recognition, Gov. Jim Edgar; Land of Lincoln award; Helen Haien Good Samaritan Award, South Side Mission; Good Scout Eagle award, Boy Scouts of America; Kiwanis Tri-County man of the year award; American Syrian Lebanese Clubs award, Midwest Federation; J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award; Friedrichafen honorary citizen award; Peoria Rescue Ministries distinguished service award; South-West Kiwanis legion of honor; honorary member Bradley University Alumni.
The Following excerpt written by Clare Howard was taken from the Peoria Journal Star online special section:
He's a man humming a tune, the hint of a smile on his face, to music unheard by anyone around him. His positive outlook and optimism are his trademark, forged through tough times, hard work and character.
He personifies the spirit of America . . . hard-core entrepreneur, immigrant parents, unflinching in the face of work. Never defeated, never quits.
He has referred to himself as "the little pants presser from Peoria" who went on to become mayor and owner of a multimillion-dollar real estate business. But nothing has shaped the life of Jim Maloof more than his work with childhood cancer patients.
St. Jude children have broken his heart but never his spirit. For 45 years, Maloof, now 83, has worked in fund raising and morale boosting for St. Jude patients and their families. Most of that time, his wife, Trudy, was his silent partner, until her death 1½ years ago.