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Jamel Aloysius Maloof
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, vice president and managing broker, Jim Maloof/Realtor; Mark, deceased; Nicholas, president MMI, an in-house marketing and
advertising company with Jim Maloof/Realtor; Janice, receptionist at Riverside Community Church.
Military:
Served with U.S. Army Air Corps, acting master sergeant, 1943-1946.
Professional:
President, Maloof Cleaners, 1946 to 1968; founder and president, Jim Maloof/Realtor,
1969 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 present;
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. |
Jim and Trudy Maloof share a brief quiet moment
in 1997 at their kitchen table.
A PASSION
FOR ST. JUDE
"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
By Clare Howard
of the Journal Star
November 17, 2002
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.
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