Remembering Jim Maloof- Personal Thoughts
By: Bob Larson
Updated: January 20, 2013
Peoria is remembering the man who led Peoria for 12 years as mayor in the 1980's and 90's and
will also be remembered for his work with St. Jude. Jim Maloof, who was a dry cleaner turned
real estate mogul died late Saturday night at age 93.
I, along with thousands of others, knew Jim not only as our mayor but as a compassionate man
who, I believe, only wanted to make his city better. As we take time to remember Jim, he took
his love for kids in the late 50's and decided he needed to help the city when it needed a little
uplifting in the 1980's after a major economic downturn. Jim once remarked that his wife wondered
what his plans were when he decided to run for mayor and Jim said he didn't have any at the time
but decided something had to be done to bring the city out of its economic and psychological slump.
Many of you will remember the phrase, the last one to leave, turn off the lights. Jim wouldn't have
any of that. Like any mayor, he had his critics at the time but as our cheer-leading mayor, Jim
shepherded the city through some tough times but with a positive vision and always hope for the
future. Even years after Jim was out of office, I would spot him at a parade or some other
community function in Central Illinois, still interested in people and making the area a better
place to live and work. Thank you Jim for your dedication to the city and every time a child is cured or
saved at St. Jude we can thank you for hard work in bringing St. Jude to Peoria. The man may
be gone but the legacy will live on.
-Bob Larson, WMBD TV.
