Jimmy Mulligan

Category
1995
About This Inductee

Jimmy Mulligan was born in Old Forge in 1906 where he attended school through the eighth grade prior to moving to Taylor in 1921. Jimmy played basketball for Taylor from 1922 to 1925. During his senior year in 1925, Taylor High School won the Pennsylvania State Basketball Championship held at Bloomsburg State Teacher’s College. Upon graduation from high school, he attended East Stroudsburg State Teacher’s College. Jimmy would eventually return to Taylor High School as basketball coach, and when not playing or coaching, dedicated his time as a basketball official. Jimmy’s basketball playing days did not end with high school nor did his desire to extend his talents to other playing fields. Besides playing basketball for the Old Taylor Pro League, the Old Forge Red Man Indians (Falcon Hall), at Holy Cross and the Penn State Professional League. Jimmy also played shortstop for the Taylor Athletic Baseball Association and the Taylor Pyne Jacks. Jimmy was also an excellent distance runner representing the American Legion of Taylor in 1925 and winning numerous awards. Probably his most memorable racing victories came against professional runners James Braddock and Paavo Nurmi. The latter (Nurmi) won a combined nine gold medals in the 1920, 1924, and 1928 Olympics. During the late 20’s and 30’s, Jimmy served as Director of Recreation for Taylor Borough. There he organized billiard, dart, ping-pong, checker, and softball leagues. When not serving the borough, he was employed by McDade, Glen Alden, and Moffit Coal Companies. World War II found Jimmy relocating to New Jersey and employed at the Hercules Powder Company as a lead foreman. He again found himself back on the field playing in the local softball and basketball firemen’s league in Kenvil, New Jersey. Jimmy worked at Hercules for twenty-eight years and returned home to Old Forge (Herman Street) in 1983 with his wife Lida. Jimmy died in 1989 and is survived by his wife, a daughter Norma Ott, three grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren.