Joseph Patrick O'Malley

Joseph Patrick O’Malley, Sr., a long-time resident of Conyers, Georgia, passed away Friday, March 20, in Montgomery, Alabama. He was 83 years old. Mr. O’Malley was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and attended The University of Georgia on a football scholarship. He lettered in football and track at UGA and played basketball as a Freshman. As a football player, he was a starter for the Bulldogs at Defensive End, earning second team All-SEC and honorable mention All-American. He was Team Captain of the Bulldogs in 1954. For you Auburn fans, after a scoreless 1954 Georgia-Alabama game, Atlanta Journal Sports Editor Ed Danforth wrote, “O’Malley was flawless. Every time Alabama tried to run his flank, he murdered them.” As a sophomore, in the Sugar Bowl victory over Tulane, Atlanta Journal Sports Editor Furman Bisher wrote, “O’Malley put on the finest defensive performance the Sugar Bowl Stadium has ever seen.” The Chicago Bears drafted Joe in 1955 and he was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played for two seasons in the NFL.

After playing football in the NFL, Joe became Basketball, Football Coach and Athletic Director at Brown High School in Atlanta. In his first season, his basketball team won the AAA state championship. He was awarded Class AAA Coach of the Year by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association in 1968. Joe was employed by General Wholesale Company in Atlanta and retired in 1994 after a 26 year career. In 1999, he was inducted into the College Hall of Fame for The University of Georgia. Joe was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Conyers, Georgia.

“Big Joe” was a loving husband and father. His sense of humor and sweet smile will be missed. Joseph Patrick O’Malley is survived by his wife of 54 years, Camden, Alabama native Joyce Ervin O’Malley of Montgomery, Ala.; daughter, Shawn Rippner (Rob Rippner, M.D.) of Chico, California; daughter Karen LaPlatney (Pat LaPlatney) of Montgomery, Ala.; son Joe O’Malley (Lima O’Malley) of Nashville, Tenn.; son Mike O’Malley (Tracey O’Malley) of Athens, Ga.; siblings Frank O’Malley, Jacqueline Pizzo and JoAnn Butler; grandsons Jack, Dan, Sam and Chris LaPlatney, and grandaughter Anna O’Malley. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 6 at St. Peter's Cathedral in Montgomery, Alabama.