Coach James Lenard Mallon Jr.

Those were the words of Coach Jim Mallon. He was a fierce competitor until the end. Mallon, 67, died Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012, following complications from heart surgery. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Mar. 3, at Rockwell Field on the campus of Southwestern University.

First, it was Mallon’s talent. Then, it was his instinct followed by shear determination that allowed him to live. And while Mallon would never accept it, he created a legendary life filled with quick wit, love for his family and friends, and yes, baseball.

Mallon was born to J.L. and Emma Jean (Quattlebaum) Mallon on March 6, 1944. He grew up in the red, sandy cotton fields of Caps, Texas. Plan A was to be a professional baseball player. There was no Plan B.

He graduated Abilene High School in 1962 and enrolled at Baylor University. He played baseball for Dutch Schroeder. Later, Mallon said Coach Schroeder taught him about the game of life in addition to the game of baseball.

After two seasons, Mallon turned pro and played five years for the San Francisco Giants organization. He was a centerfielder/first baseman. During each off-season, Mallon returned to Baylor, eventually earning a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in physical education.

One off-season, Mallon met Jane Baptist from Lafayette, Louisiana. It was Thursday. Instinct told him she was the one, and by Sunday, he proposed to her at the airport. They were married on Oct. 1, 1965. He would later name her his MVP; his hall-of-famer; the love of his life.

Mallon said two men, Willie McCovy and Willie Mays, both at the height of their own baseball careers, kept Mallon from making it in the big leagues. Soon, two other men became more important in Mallon’s life - his sons Jeff and Jarret.

In 1971, he accepted the head baseball coach position at Southwestern University. Coach Mallon and Jane set their home base in Georgetown and went about raising their family while also building the Southwestern baseball program. During his tenure, he served the university as head baseball coach, professor of kinesiology, and associate athletic director.

In 1983, while still at Southwestern, Mallon coached the United States baseball team for the Pan American Games and the World Cup Games. Mallon and the teams earned bronze and silver medals respectively. In 1990, Mallon professionally managed the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league team.

In 1993, Mallon’s health failed. The generosity of a stranger – an organ donor – plus his own fierce competitive spirit and determination allowed him to live. That October, Mallon received a kidney transplant and three months later, he started the 1994 season with his Pirates.

“I now appreciate everything and do not take a single thing for granted,” Mallon said. “Many young people think they are bullet-proof, but they need to appreciate their good health and enjoy each day they live. For a person who receives an organ transplant, there’s no way they can say thank you enough. There’s no way to explain that feeling you have.”

Mallon coached for 10 more years, and when he retired from Southwestern in 2004, he had amassed a record of 1,197 wins against only 601 losses for a winning percentage of .666. Mallon ended his coaching career ranked third all-time in wins for both the NCAA and the NAIA.

More than 40 years later, Mallon had not forgotten the lesson from Coach Schroeder. Mallon said “there is life after baseball, and it’s important to me to show my players that. I like to hear they learned something besides baseball here.”

In retirement, Mallon did not slow down. He raised cattle on his farm and operated a bulldozing service when not playing golf, fishing, hunting for deer and dove, and refereeing football games on the high school and college level. And Mallon didn’t leave baseball - he coached summer league and coached in private lessons.

Mallon’s Plan A worked. He went for the long haul.

He is survived by his wife Jane; sons Jeff and Jarret; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Marie and Philip Harmon; nieces Alison Collins and Dr. Rachael Harmon, as well as several aunts and uncles, cousins, nephews, plus a multitude of friends, former players and students throughout Texas and the United States.

Honorary pallbearers will be Jerry Graham, Dennis Hilgeman, Jeff Livin, Danny Mickan, Dr. Glada Munt, Dr. Virgil Pate, Dr. Monty Smith, and Bill Willis.

In lieu of flowers and in the spirit of Mallon’s life – for those he touched and for those who choose to go for the long haul – the family has requested donations be made to Southwestern University for The Coach Jim Mallon Endowed Fund, and/or The Baseball Locker Room Campaign, 1001 E. University, Georgetown, Texas 78626. Donations may also be made to The Blood & Tissue Center of Central Texas, 4300 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78756..

Mallon’s legacy will continue.

Arrangements under the direction of Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512) 863-2564.