When longtime music industry leaders decided to establish an endowed scholarship at the University of Mississippi School of Law, they knew exactly whose name it should carry.
The late Bob Malouf wasn’t the most visible figure in their story, but he was, in many ways, one of the most essential.
“Bob started off as family,” said Tommy Couch Sr., former president of Malaco Music Group in Jackson, Mississippi. “He was my wife’s first cousin but over time, he became much more than that. He was our lawyer, our adviser and one of our closest friends.”
That’s why the owners and executives of Malaco — Couch Sr., Tommy Couch Jr., Stewart Madison and Wolf Stephenson — wanted to memorialize the attorney by establishing the Robert A. Malouf Scholarship in Law Endowment with a $130,000 gift. In 2020, the group also established an endowment in memory of the late John Couch, their beloved family member and UM alumnus.
Since 1968, Malaco Music Group has been a leader in the independent recording industry. Also known as the Last Soul Company, Malaco defines the state of contemporary southern R&B, soul and gospel music.
“We are deeply grateful for this thoughtful and lasting gift, which not only honors the life and legacy of our alumnus, Bob Maloof, but also opens doors of opportunity for future generations of students,” said UM School of Law Dean Frederick Slabach. “Through this scholarship, Bob’s commitment to integrity, hard work and excellence will continue to shape lives and inspire success for years to come.”
Recipients of the Malouf Scholarship, which will exist in perpetuity, will be full-time second-year Ole Miss law students who rank in the top 50 percent of their class and have demonstrated financial need.
“Bob was a great friend,” said Couch Jr., Malaco president. “This is simply our way of saying thank you.”
From Family to Trusted Counsel
Raised in Greenwood, Mississippi, Malouf built a reputation as a sharp, adaptable attorney who could handle everything from complex contracts to emerging legal questions in the music industry. He quickly became the go-to counsel for the Couch family’s independent record label — a relationship that spanned decades.
“He did most of our legal work,” said Madison, director of business affairs for Malaco. “Contracts, negotiations, whatever came up — he was always our ‘local counsel.’ But what made him special was that he’d tell us the truth, even when we didn’t want to hear it.”
That honesty, paired with remarkable intelligence, made Malouf indispensable.
“In my opinion, he was probably the best music lawyer in the state,” said Couch Jr. “We had access to lawyers in New York and California, where the big music business is — but Bob learned the industry alongside us. And he was excellent.”
A Quiet Excellence
Malouf’s brilliance wasn’t loud or self-promotional. He preferred independence, working outside the spotlight and often on his own terms.
“He was a little bit of a lone operator,” Couch Sr. said. “But he proved something important: if you’re really good, you don’t have to be in a big firm to succeed. You can branch out, do your own thing — and if you’re smart enough, you’re going to do well.”
That independence also shaped how he thought.
“He didn’t just know the right answers,” Madison explained. “He knew why. And he could see angles other people weren’t even thinking about.”
Even when confronted with unfamiliar challenges — such as the complexities of music law — Malouf adapted quickly.
“He grew up learning this business with us,” Couch Sr. said. “And once he got into it, he was a quick study. He could take on complicated issues and handle them with confidence.”
A Humble Reaction
Malouf, who earned his law degree from Ole Miss in 1978, died Dec. 23, 2025, leaving a legacy defined less by recognition and more by relationships.
So how would he react to having a scholarship created in his honor?
“Shock,” Madison said with a smile. “He’d probably say, ‘You don’t need to do that.’ Or he’d just be quiet about it. That was Bob.”
Investing in Potential, Not Perfection
The endowed scholarship established in his name reflects Malouf’s character and the values he embodied. Rather than rewarding only top-ranked students, the scholarship is designed to support those who demonstrate similar commitment, work ethic and determination.
“We didn’t necessarily want to award it to the smartest person in the class. Sometimes the hardest-working person — the one doing their best — ends up being the most successful,” Couch Sr. explained.
Couch Jr. agreed: “We want to give students the freedom to study, to grow, to think outside the box — like Bob did.”
To make a gift to the Robert A. Malouf Scholarship in Law Endowment, send a check with the fund’s name written in the memo line to the University of Mississippi Foundation at 406 University Ave., Oxford, MS 38655; or online here.
To support the School of Law, contact Greg Carter, associate director of development for the School of Law, at gjcarter@olemiss.edu or 662-915-1849.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation