Heart attack claims M50 Irish star Joe Conway; lived in Texas
Ireland’s Joe Conway, a national class middle-distance who lived in Texas, died last month of a heart attack, we sadly learn. He was 50 and competed as recently as 2017 Baton Rouge nationals. A friend, Conor O’Driscoll, wrote me: “Joe was always great company at national masters meets. He will be missed.” A former media man, he contributed to Jumping the Gun and wrote well. See his delightful piece about Irish WR man Joe Gough at 2015 Budapest indoor worlds.
Here’s an obituary by his former employer:
Joe Conway, 50, of Katy, Texas, a former newsroom employee at the American Press, has died in Houston of a heart attack.
Conway, a native of Ireland, attended McNeese State University on a track scholarship.
Conway, at the time of his death, was an administrator at Houston Community College. He had previously worked at the Houston Chronicle where he was director of media relations.
Conway gained national recognition from the Online News Association for the newspaper’s online coverage of Super Bowl XXXVIII held in Houston.
A regular contributor to Irish Runner magazine, Conway was still a competitor and finished as 800 meters runner-up at the U.S. Masters championships this past summer. He covered the U.S. Summer Olympics for the American Press in 1996.
Catholic funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. today in Katy. His wife, a native of DeQuincy, two sons, his parents and four brothers survive Conway.
Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
5 Responses
Joe was a gifted conversationalist too and his many fellow masters competitors join me in thanking his family for sharing him with us.
Very sad. Condolences to his family.
I see results from last summer, but I don’t think he was runner up in the 800. Oh I see, it was the 4 x800
We had the sorrow to hear Didier Traoré 57 old 800 1500 runner diied during training in view to participate to ER Master in Madrid
Very sad news. I have always look forward to talking and running with Joe here in Houston at our All-Comers and Indoor meets. What great gentleman! He will be missed.
A great guy and excellent athlete…Gone much too soon..
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