Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame inductee Joe O'CONNOR was graduated from Maloy in 1930. He played four years of baseball and basketball at Maloy. During his last year, Maloy was a participant in the state tournament.

In 1934, he graduated from NWMSC at Maryville. During his college days he played four years of both baseball and basketball and was captain in both sports his senior year.

He started coaching baseball and basketball at Wiota, Iowa, in 1934. Elected superintendent in 1936, he continued to coach. The boys' basketball team won 91.4% of their games and the baseball team won 89.7% including a state championship. The girls' team won 94% of their games. They were in the state finals seven years and won the state championship two years in a row.

He was voted into the Hall of Fame as a coach of both boys and girls basketball.

He moved to Atlantic, Iowa, in 1947 and was superintendent of schools there until 1951. At that time he entered the business field.

He attended George Peabody University in Nashville and the University of Colorado and received his masters degree at the University of Iowa.

Joe married Janet SUTTON of Bonesteel, South Dakota, in 1939. They have two sons: Mike, who graduated from the University of Iowa and Drake College of Law, and William, a graduate of Simpson College. Mike is now living in Sacramento, California, and Bill in San Diego. Bill was one of Iowa's outstanding amateur golfers, winning the state Tournament of Champions twice back to back.

SOURCE: Maloy, Iowa Centennial History: 1887 - 1987 p. 47. 1987.

Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011