- Date Of Birth: September 30, 1926
- Date Of Death: April 27, 2014
- State: Arkansas
James Miller Malone Jr. of Lonoke, Arkansas passed away peacefully Sunday April 27, 2014 with the dignity and faith in God he maintained his entire life. He was born September 30, 1926 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Adele Willson Malone and James Miller Malone Sr. Jim was the oldest of their 3 children: Libby Campbell of Harrison and Marian Latham of Shreveport Louisiana, both of whom survive him.
Jim is also survived by his muse and loving wife of 62 years Ruby “Doretta” Malone of Lonoke, Arkansas; his daughter Beverly Malone Jones, her husband Bobby Jones Jr of Keo, Arkansas, their sons Jade Jones and Casey Jones of Fayetteville, Arkansas; his son Jim B. Malone and wife Louise Malone of Carlisle, Arkansas, their 2 daughters Raychel Pendergist and her husband Amon Pendergist, Carlisle, Arkansas and Lauren Thomson and her husband Rob Thomson of Dallas, Texas.
Jim attended elementary school in England, Arkansas and later Lonoke schools. He graduated Lonoke High School in 1944 after taking a high school equivalency test at the University of Arkansas to be able to enter the United States Navy the same year. After serving two years in the Pacific Theater of World War II on an auxiliary repair ship Mr. Malone was mustered out the Navy in Millington, Tennessee.
Upon leaving the Navy Jim campaigned for his father who ran for Governor of Arkansas in 1946. He entered the University of Arkansas in January 1947 graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1949. Jim then entered law school at the urging of his friend Orval Faubus but later decided becoming an attorney was not his cup of tea. Beginning in 1950 Jim became involved in Arkansas state politics, giving speeches on behalf of Governor Sidney McMath and Orval Faubus in 1954. He was a speechwriter for Faubus during his second campaign for Governor in 1956. Jim even ran for Governor himself in 1970. While heavily involved in politics, Jim made time to start J. M. Malone & Son
Enterprises in 1952. A fish farming entity that still operates as a family business today. His achievements in the aquaculture industry were many and included being elected President of the Arkansas Fish Farmers Association and American Fish Farmers Federation, recipient of National Aquaculture Association Lifetime Achievement Award, and was instrumental in many key pieces of legislation to further the aquaculture industry. Jim pioneered the use of sterile grass carp and the verification method necessary to test for their sterility by assisting in establishing the National Triploid Grass Carp inspection program and protocols still in use today across the United States. He was named to the Lonoke County Farm Family of the Year in 2009. He also headed a successful effort to stock the Panama Canal in Central America with grass carp for vegetation control in 1977 by flying his fish hauling trucks on C130 Transport planes. The University of Central Arkansas called for Jim’s papers to be put in their Archives in 2000.
Jim was a member of the Lonoke Baptist Church, lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge and a 50 year plus member of the Lonoke American Legion.
He was an amateur magician, piano player, a wonderful dancer, published author and avid storyteller. To his children and grandchildren Jim “Poppa” was a kite maker, firework shooter, swim and dive instructor, The Black Shadow in the Green Forest, house boat captain, snow sled builder extraordinaire, knee bouncer singer, and a mean Bloody Mary maker.
Jim was an intellectual person of many interests. He loved the writings of Nikola Tesla and the Bible. He had a firm handshake; his word was his bond and character was the wall God leaned him against for support.
Jim started his journey to happiness late in the year of 1950 when he met Little Willy his soon to be wife Doretta that resulted in 62 amazing years of marriage. Jim and Doretta were inseparable and created a family based on core values that
have transcended to their grandchildren. His faith in God and Savior Jesus Christ was his core through this earthly life and built him a life everlasting. He will be missed by all until we see him again.
