The 'spirit of volunteerism and generosity'

January 31, 2023

The Clifford and Eleanor Malone Scholarship has been established at the University of Kansas to aid students who are the first generation in their family to attend college. Their eldest son Patrick Malone (B.A. 1972) and his wife, Vicki Neighbors Malone (B.F.A. 1970), initiated the scholarship to help other first-generation students attend college. Patrick and Vicki Malone were inspired by Clifford and Eleanor being in the first generation of their families to attend college and wanted to provide opportunities for students in the same position.

Clifford and Eleanor met while students at KU. Eleanor Brown, a native of Kansas City, Mo., graduated in 1949 with a B.A. in mathematics, and Clifford, who was born and raised on a farm near Chase, Kan., received his Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B.) in 1952. The couple were married in Chase, Kan., in 1950 and spent two more years in Lawrence before moving to Wichita where Clifford practiced law for 50 years with the firm of Adam Jones Robinson and Malone. He and Eleanor raised seven children.

Both Clifford and Eleanor were active in volunteer work. Clifford received the Kansas Bar Association’s Equal Access to Justice Award for his work with the Legal Aid Society. Eleanor was a homeroom mother for her children and headed the Camp Fire Girls Club for her daughter. After their children grew up, Eleanor became a leader in quilting organizations, including serving as president of the Kansas Quilt Project, which included a traveling exhibit and book about the history of Kansas quilts and quilt makers.

We’re honored to be able to set up this scholarship as tribute to our parents’ spirit of volunteerism and generosity.

Patrick Malone

Throughout their lives, Clifford and Eleanor were devout Jayhawks. The couple gave back to KU with donations to the School of Law and a lifetime of athletic fandom. They also enjoyed travelling all over the United States and Mexico, even flying together to Europe several times with the Flying Jayhawks. Spending time with their children and nineteen grandchildren was also important to the couple. Though Clifford died in 2007, Eleanor continued their traditions, cheering on the Jayhawks with family and volunteering in her community before her passing in 2022.

The Malone family plans to honor their parents’ KU roots by continuing to support those in the community. “We’re honored to be able to set up this scholarship as tribute to our parents’ spirit of volunteerism and generosity,” said their son, Patrick Malone.

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment was the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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January 31, 2023