Name: Tim Malloy
Age: 65
Parish: St. Peter the Fisherman Church
City: Mountain Home
Family: Wife Denise; one son; six daughters; 10 grandchildren
Why you want to know Tim: Tim Malloy became the new state deputy for the Knights of Columbus July 1. He joined the Knights of Columbus in 1981 and has served in nearly every position ever since, including grand knight of his local council five times, district deputy eight times and faithful navigator three times.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
How did you get involved with the Knights of Columbus?
I would’ve been in my early 20s, working two jobs. One of those jobs was a cook at a pizza parlor. It was owned by two Catholics, Don and Art. They were having a membership drive and they asked me to join, and I said sure — and that was the start of it.
What are some of the various activities you’ve participated in as a member of the Knights of Columbus?
I’ve done so many different things. … A grand knight is in charge of what they call a council level, so like a parish council, and that’s degrees one through three. And then the fourth degree is the assembly. That’s the patriotic degree. And that’s the faithful navigator. I’ve held just about every position, some of them rather briefly just filling in, but … let’s just say I’ve been around a long time, and I’m a very experienced knight.
How has being in the Knights of Columbus improved your faith life?
Being in the Knights of Columbus has been a wonderful experience. You can go anywhere in the country, and it’s just like dehydrated food — just add water, and you have instant friends. It’s a very tight brotherhood, a very tight fraternity. … In 2012, it just hit me that for all that I’d done or all that I thought I had done, I really wasn’t doing what God wanted me to do. … So I just sort of dedicated myself to service, the parish parishioners, the Knights, just wherever the need was. I have to say that it has been the most rewarding experience of my life.
What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered during your duration as a knight?
Every organization is affected by leadership, whether it be good or bad leadership. I have learned that though I don’t always wish to lead, I seem to have a knack for it. When you belong to a council at a local level, a lot of times when you move around the country, and you transfer from council to council, some have better leadership than others. Some act more like Men’s Clubs than they do Knight of Columbus councils. They drift away from what we’re all about. And so I’ve had the pleasure of inspiring men to get back to our core beliefs.
What are some of the successes you’ve encountered during your duration as a Knight?
Here in Mountain Home we created a scholarship fund at the end of 2014. I wrote the investment policy. We had sold a building that we owned, and we donated most of the money to the church. We had about $130,000 left over, and we created a scholarship fund. Today, that account probably has about $190,000 in it, and we have given away $57,525 in scholarships to youth. … The investment policy that I and a couple of other guys wrote keeps the fund viable for many, many years. … We only give away what interest and dividends we earn in a year, as opposed to giving away capital. But I’m extremely proud about that because if you want to institute positive change in your community, it’s got to be through education.
How did you decide to become the state deputy?
Friends ask friends to participate in different things, and it’s certainly something you always do to help friends, especially in the Knights. We’re such a tight-knit group. So you’re asked to fill a position, and you’re like, “OK, I’ll do it.” … Then, one day, you look up, and you’re going, “Wow, how’d I end up here?” … We’ve all been trying to teach each other our jobs and make the processes better because, amongst this group of officers, we made a commitment five years ago to make sure that we always left the state in a better position than we found it because it’s not about us. It’s about what we leave for future generations. … But being a Knight is truly a wonderful thing. I really believe it’s made me a better Catholic, a better father, a better man.
What are some of your duties, responsibilities and goals as the new state deputy?
I’d say the primary duties are growing the jurisdiction and gaining numbers for the Knights of Columbus. Obviously, I represent the supreme knight and the board of directors out of New Haven, Conn. A state deputy safeguards the name and the emblem of the order. He’s the public arm. … Most of the administrative duties are done by your state advocate, your state treasurer and your state secretary. … But state deputy safeguards the order and promotes the order in the state of Arkansas. … It really boils down to wanting to leave everything better. But it’s not that simple. I want the Knights of Columbus to grow and be stronger, but I’m really more concerned about our faith, putting more people in the pews, helping people realize that God is already here. If you think he’s not, he’s within you. You just have to reach out and embrace him. … I just see my job as needing to form men in their faith and provide opportunities and means to keep them faithful and active within the Church. If I can do that then I’ll have been successful at the end of the day.
How does the Knights of Columbus help men grow in their faith?
It is extremely easy for a man … to get frustrated and lose their way in their faith because of outside influences. When you spend all your time with men who have a very strong faith, you help each other walk through these things so the devil’s not successful in turning our hearts hard. … Without that support, it’s very possible that a man quits going to church because he’s angry … but when you have the support of fellow Catholics — and our priests in this diocese are unbelievable supporters of the Knights of Columbus — and you get a more intimate relationship with your priest and with your pastors, with your deacons, you’re all helping each other keep the faith, grow the faith. Because at the end of the day, aren’t we all here to help each other get to heaven? … It takes a man to stand up and say, “This is not about me. This is about God.”
— Katie Zakrzewski
