James Anthony "Jim" Gallagher Sr.

GALLAGHER, James Anthony Sr. "Jim," 72, of North Palm Beach, Fla., beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, died early Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at home, surrounded by his wife, children and extended family, after a brief battle with cancer. Jim is survived by his loving and devoted family, which includes his wife of 49 years, Nan Davis Gallagher; children, James Gallagher Jr. (Michelle) of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Joseph Gallagher of West Palm Beach, Fla., Kerry Ann Gallagher (Diedre Newton) of West Palm Beach, Maureen Gallagher Alston (Mark) of West Palm Beach, and Michael Gallagher of North Palm Beach; and grandchildren, Catherine Alston, Walter Alston and Sarah Alston of West Palm Beach. Jim was predeceased by his mother and father, Katherine Moynihan Gallagher and James Gallagher, and two brothers, Timothy John Gallagher and Robert Emmett Gallagher. Jim was born November 11, 1935, in New York, N.Y., and spent his early years in Revere, Mass., and the Tampa/ St. Pete area. A graduate of Jesuit High School in Tampa, and the University of Tampa, he was senior class president at the University of Tampa, and president of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. He subsequently served in the U.S. Army and the Florida National Guard. From 1966 until 1988, Jim was the sports director for WPEC-TV, and hosted the Athlete of the Week for almost 30 years. In 1985, he was inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame. He was the Radio and TV play-by-play announcer for the University of Miami Football from 1978-1983, and hosted the Howard Schnellenberger Show with the University of Miami Football in 1980 and 1981. He was also the play-by-play announcer for the Sunbelt Conference in 1984, and from 1985 to 1989, Jim was the television play-by-play announcer for the University of Florida football. He was the radio voice of the Florida Atlantic University basketball from 1989 to 1995. Jim founded Jim Gallagher Communications, and hosted and produced a nationally syndicated auto racing show, "Track Side." He also was the founder and owner of the Grand Prix Radio Network. Jim was a radio announcer and sportscaster for many decades in Tampa/St. Pete and West Palm Beach. Additionally, in his early career Jim was a middle school English teacher in Tampa. Jim raced professionally in numerous sports car and stock car classes. He served as the voice of Sebring Radio Network for 2 decades. From 1977 until 1982, Jim was a reporter for Nascar' s Motor Racing Network for Daytona and Talladega. He was a past president of the Florida Sportscasters Association and former National President of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA) and remained an active member of the NSSA. He was a member for over 50 years of Sigma Delta Chi, Society of Professional Journalists. Jim was the winner of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association' s Florida Sportscaster of the Year for 1978, 1979, 1980, 1987 and 1988, in addition to winning numerous other awards. Jim was a founding member of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, and co-founded the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame. He was on the advisory board of the Salvation Army of Palm Beach County, the board of directors of the Urban League of Palm Beach County, a member of the Palm Beach Historical Society, and an active volunteer with The Lord' s Place. He was a past president of the Flagler Sunrise Kiwanis and a longstanding member of the West Palm Beach Kiwanis Club. He founded Friends of 45th Street and the Walter Kelley Luncheon. Jim was an active member of St. Clare Catholic Church. The Gallagher family would like to express their sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the many beloved friends for all the love and compassion given to our husband, father, grandfather and friend. Special thanks are given to Dr. Frank Custureri of Palm Beach Gardens, Dr. Paul Martin of the University of Miami School of Medicine and Dr. Jolly Varki, also of the University of Miami School of Medicine. The family will receive friends 4-8 p.m. Sunday, July 6, 2008, at Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 1201 South Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33401. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday, July 7, 2008 at St. Clare Catholic Church, 821 Prosperity Farms Road, North Palm Beach, FL 33408. Entombment will be at Riverside Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Jim to any of the following organizations: Salvation Army of Palm Beach County, Urban League of Palm Beach County, and The Lord' s Place. Beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, we will love him and miss him forever.