Malaco Music Group Donates $130,000 to Establish Bob Malouf Law Scholarship at Ole Miss

Malaco Music Group, the independent label that has shaped Southern R&B, soul, and gospel for nearly six decades, announced on August 8 2026 that it has created an endowed scholarship at the University of Mississippi School of Law. The $130,000 gift will fund the Robert A. Malouf Scholarship in Law Endowment, honoring the late attorney Bob Malouf, who served as the company’s counsel for decades.

Bob Malouf—an Ole Miss Law graduate of 1978—was known for his razor‑sharp legal mind and for offering honest, pragmatic advice to the Couch family and Malaco’s executives. He handled contracts, negotiations, and all other legal matters that kept the label, founded in 1968, operating smoothly in a fiercely competitive industry.

The scholarship will be awarded to second‑year law students who rank in the top 50 % of their class and demonstrate financial need. According to Dean Frederick Slabach, the award is intended to reflect Malouf’s commitment to integrity, hard work and excellence. “Through this scholarship, Bob’s commitment to integrity, hard work and excellence will continue to shape lives and inspire success for years to come,” Slabach said.

Malaco’s owners and executives—Tommy Couch Sr., Tommy Couch Jr., Stewart Madison and Wolf Stephenson—publicly expressed gratitude for the opportunity to memorialize Malouf. Couch Sr. described him as “family” and noted that the attorney had become “our lawyer, our adviser and one of our closest friends.” Couch Jr. added that the scholarship is a way for the company to say thank you. Madison, the label’s director of business affairs, highlighted Malouf’s role in handling the company’s legal work. “He did most of our legal work,” Madison said. “Contracts, negotiations, whatever came up; he was always our ‘local counsel.’” Stephenson echoed the sentiment, noting that Malouf’s honesty and intelligence made him indispensable.

Malouf’s reputation extended beyond the Couch family. He was described as “probably the best music lawyer in the state,” according to Couch Jr., who contrasted Malouf’s local expertise with the larger firms in New York and California. The attorney’s ability to learn quickly and adapt to complex music‑law issues was repeatedly praised.

The scholarship’s criteria deliberately avoid rewarding only the highest‑ranking students. Couch Sr. explained that the award is meant for those who demonstrate the same work ethic and determination that defined Malouf’s career. “We didn’t necessarily want to award it to the smartest person in the class,” he said. “Sometimes the hardest‑working person, the one doing their best, ends up being the most successful.”

To contribute to the endowment, donors can send a check to the University of Mississippi Foundation at 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655, with the fund’s name on the memo line, or give online through the foundation’s website.

The scholarship is expected to begin awarding students in the upcoming academic year. The University of Mississippi School of Law will administer the award, selecting recipients based on the stated criteria.

Bob Malouf passed away on December 26 2025. His legacy, as reflected in the scholarship, emphasizes relationships, integrity and the belief that excellence can be achieved outside the spotlight.

The endowment provides a lasting tribute to Malouf’s contributions to both the legal profession and the music industry, ensuring that future generations of law students receive support that mirrors the values he championed.