Bill Maloy of Reno peacefully passed away on Monday, March 28, 2011, in the presence of family and friends. He was born Dec. 12, 1936, to Lee and Blanche Maloy in Visalia, Calif. Bill was raised on the family ranch in nearby Three Rivers, Calif., and worked at the family's pack station in Sequoia National Park. He attended elementary and high school in Woodlake, Calif. After high school, he played quarterback and studied art at the College of Sequoias in Visalia and Cal State Fresno. On June 17, 1956 ,Bill married his high school sweetheart, Mary Albanese, and moved to Reno in 1959.
Bill was a renowned saddlemaker / silversmith. He opened his first saddle shop at the age of 22 in downtown Reno and continued to build hand-crafted saddles, prized and collected, as well as used by cowboys and celebrities up until a few months before his passing. During his 50-year career, Bill earned a reputation as one of the most acclaimed members of his profession, with a long list of accolades and awards. In 1997, Bill was honored at "Canada's Cowboy Festival" in Calgary, as a hero of Western Art and Craftsmanship. In 2002, he received the Will Rogers Award as the Academy of Western Artists' saddle maker of the year. In 2004 he was inducted into the prestigious Traditional Cowboy Arts Association at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Most recently, Bill was the recipient of the Nevada Governor's Art Award for Excellence in Folk Arts.
Bill enjoyed entertaining friends, and his shop on South Virginia Street became a popular gathering place for old-time Reno ranchers, business owners and cowboys. His hobbies included team roping, hunting, fishing and watching football. Mostly, he valued time spent with family. Bill was a loving husband, father and friend to many; he will be missed dearly.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Mary; sons Tim (Laurie) and Donny (Patti); daughter Diana; brother Leroy and sister Virginia Newberry; grandchildren Annmarie (Nick) Chavez, Brad, Carlee and Becca Maloy and great-grandchild Dominic Chavez.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at Our Lady of the Snows Church followed by a celebration of life at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Reno Rodeo Foundation or Bishop Manogue Catholic High School. Arrangements are entrusted to the Walton Funeral Home, Reno.
