Tommy Malone Scholarship Fund Established at Mercer Law School

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MACON – The Tommy Malone Endowed Scholarship fund was recently established to honor the distinguished legal career of renowned trial lawyer and Mercer Law alumnus Tommy Malone, ’66.

The scholarship will provide financial assistance for a second- or third-year student enrolled at Mercer Law School who has demonstrated an interest in trial or appellate advocacy through participation in advocacy competitions or trial practice classes at the Law School.

“I can think of no more fitting tribute to Tommy Malone than a scholarship that promotes the next generation of strong trial advocates,” said Cathy Cox, dean of Mercer Law School. “Tommy’s dedication to the law and to his clients is a lesson for our students in and of itself, and we are thrilled to have a scholarship named for him that further enables our students to study and learn from his work.”

Malone is the founder of Malone Law, and for more than 40 years, he has litigated cases involving catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death throughout Georgia and beyond.

Malone is a recognized pioneer in his field and has a nationwide reputation for skillfully representing clients in complex injury and wrongful death cases.

The fund was established by friends of Tommy Malone, including Frederick S. Bergen, ’86; Brent J. Savage; Brent J. Savage Jr., ’09; and Robert Bartley “Bart” Turner, ’88.

“I am grateful to those who have funded this scholarship and for honoring in this fashion one of America’s greatest lawyers,” said Mercer President William D. Underwood. “Tommy is a loyal Mercerian, having served the Law School in a variety of ways over the years and having served the University as chair of the Board of Trustees. This is a very fitting tribute that will benefit future generations of Mercer lawyers.”

“The Tommy Malone Scholarship is a fitting tribute to honor Tommy’s life’s work. Tommy’s trial skills and instincts are surpassed by none. He has always given back by mentoring other lawyers and by actively supporting Mercer Law School and charitable organizations such as the Shepherd Center,” said Bergen, an attorney at Bergen & Bergen in Savannah and recent inductee into the American College of Trial Lawyers. “Most importantly, Tommy has always put the interest and needs of his clients first. I am pleased to be part of this important scholarship for our second- and third-year law students who will hopefully emulate in their future law practices the principles that Tommy has taught us all.”

Born and raised in Albany, Malone spent the majority of his legal career in Atlanta. He served as chairman of Mercer University’s Board of Trustees from 2015-2017 and has been an ardent supporter of Mercer Law School, endowing the Tommy Malone Distinguished Chair in Trial Advocacy at the Law School in 2007.

“Tommy Malone has been the best trial lawyer in Georgia in my lifetime,” said Savage, a founding partner at Savage, Turner, Durham, Pickney and Savage in Savannah, where Savage Jr. and Turner are also partners. “My hope is the help that Tommy gave to literally hundreds of lawyers in Georgia will cause them to consider giving back to something which honors, not just a trial lawyer superstar, but a good and decent man.”

Friends who wish to join in the effort to recognize Malone can contribute to the scholarship fund online at law.mercer.edu/campaign or by mail at Mercer Law School, 1021 Georgia Ave., Macon, GA 31207.

About Mercer Law School:
Founded in 1873, Mercer University School of Law is one of the oldest law schools in the United States and the first one in the state of Georgia accredited by the American Bar Association. Mercer Law School’s educational philosophy is based on a broadly shared commitment to prepare students for the high-quality practice of law in a day-to-day learning environment that is both strongly supportive and consistently professional. Mercer Law School is only one of two schools to be a two-time recipient of the prestigious ABA Gambrell Professionalism Award for excellence and innovation in ethics and professionalism throughout the curriculum. With an enrollment of about 400 students, Mercer Law School is nationally recognized for its exceptional programs in legal writing, moot court, experiential education, and ethics and professionalism.