Among Other Things: Father O'Maley was a man of action

A man of God, Father William O'Maley was very much a man of community, too. Few people have had as lasting an influence on Polson and Lake County than the longtime pastor of Polson's Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Dec. 12, 1878, he studied in Friburg, Switzerland, where he was ordained in 1907. He taught at the University of Dayton until coming to Montana in 1910 to teach at Carroll College in Helena until 1911 when he was assigned to the serve until 1913 in the chancery office in Helena.

Then he began his long career as parish priest. Father O'Maley was sent to Ronan to serve briefly until going to Polson in September 1913. There he stayed for 43 years except for a span of a couple years in the mid-'20s when he pastored a Butte parish.

Father O'Maley was a community booster from Day One. He got into the swing of things working along with those who successfully interested the Northern Pacific Railroad in building its Dixon-Polson branch line.

After an unhappy experience — he fainted — while assisting in an emergency operation on a kitchen table, he decided that Polson's hospital situation needed a more permanent base. In 1916 he was responsible for bring the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph to Polson where they took over the Polson General Hospital and continued to sponsor the Polson medical facility until March 1984.

The priest's interest in hospital doing continued through the years. With his advice and direction the Hospital Sisters acquired the Davidson property in 1922 and built the Hotel Dieu Hospital 10 years later.

He was also a key figure in promoting the formation of Lake County in 1923, making speeches on the need for better county government. At the time this area was part of Flathead and Missoula counties.

Father O'Maley was an avid boater, too. This interest was recalled in a letter to the editor of the Flathead Courier at Polson several years ago by Rose Simmons Bicha. She said that Father O'Maley had his own 30-ft. inboard boat with a canopied top and carrying capacity of 12-15 passengers.

She recalled, "At this time the Knights of Columbus owned a dandy section of villa site property near Skidoo Bay and Finley Point. Every summer the KCs from all over western Montana had one large picnic and Father O'Maley said Mass out under the trees …

"We kids all looked forward to this picnic for weeks. Besides the eats, there was the wonderful beach. It was one of the best on the entire lakeshore and extended out for almost a quarter of a mile. This, of course, was long before the dam was built so it was a natural, unspoiled section of beach.

"Father O'Maley sometimes took us and a few others from the dock at Polson up across the bay, through the Narrows, and on to the KC grounds for the picnic. We knew we had to sit still in the boat and we did (under the threat of a good spanking). Can't recall the name of his boat, but it was a beautiful, sleek, trim boat and Father was in the height of this glory driving his boat. With his yachting cap, he did indeed look like a sea captain."

The priest was among those responsible for establishing the annual Cherry Regatta in Polson in the 1930s when promotional packages of Flathead Lake sweet cherries would be distributed to regatta spectators.

For several years Father O'Maley served as Commodore of the racing association. The Cherry Regatta was succeeded in later years by the Copper Cup Regatta.

Father O'Maley died in March 1956 at the age of 78. He was buried in the Hospital Sisters cemetery on Skyline Drive. In an unusual tribute to his memory, most Polson businesses closed for 10 a.m. to noon on the day of his funeral.

Even today, O'Maley continues to be a household name — especially during baseball season when Legion, Babe Ruth and Little league teams play on the ball diamonds in O'Maley Park bordering 11th Ave. E. and Fourth St. E. where a commemorative sign reads "O'Maley Park … for the enjoyment of all."