Youthful Tokens of Terry O'Malley
Terrence J. O’Malley, an internationally acclaimed advertising executive, is more fondly known as Terry in his hometown of St. Catharines, Ontario. Being involved with coining the term Team Canada for the 1972 hockey summit series between Canada and Russia, designing the patriotic Maple Leaf uniforms, as well as supporting local sports teams and education, O’Malley has etched his place in Canadian history.
O'Malley has donated several scrapbooks filled with immense collections of items from his time in advertising, however, it is the scrapbooks collected by his mother Doris that show the journey that led to his outstanding career.
O’Malley was born December 16, 1936 in St. Catharines, Ontario to Doris Catherine and John Dominic O’Malley. He spent his childhood in St. Catharines until leaving for Harvard University on a scholarship through the Harvard Club of Buffalo. At Harvard, he completed an Honours Degree in general studies (1958) in three years and played on the men’s ice hockey team. Subsequently, O’Malley returned to Canada and began graduate studies at the University of Toronto. In 1960, O’Malley landed his first job at MacLaren Advertising as a copywriter. He eventually joined Vickers and Benson where he would remain till the end of his professional advertising career. Beginning as copy chief, O’Malley moved through the ranks holding titles such as Group Head, Associate Creative Director, and Executive Vice-President. In 1976, he became Creative Director, President, and major shareholder.
It is evident in O'Malley's scrapbooks that he was on a path to great success from a very young age. The pages include wins at school field days and glimpses at his talents as a hockey player in the numerous newspaper clippings.
It is clear that O'Malley was a gifted athlete, but hockey in particular was a huge part of his life as a young boy and into adulthood. His talents as a hockey player were documented in his scrapbooks and would later become a stepping stone for him into Harvard. His determination and competitive nature are revealed in his own words in this handwritten note in the pages of the scrapbook:
"I broke my ankle in the fall on a play at third base and soon after Joe Cheevers asked me to come out when it healed. I did and practiced for two months and played two games. One in Buffalo. I got two goals and got two assits. Wait Till '53." Terry O'Malley, 1952
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