Bill Malouf believes actions speak louder than words, but he has always had a lot to say when it comes to his children.
Malouf, 57, said he talks to his children like his mother spoke to him — with pride and integrity.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for my parents. My mother always took such pride in our family values,” said Malouf. “I expect my children to live up to what they stood for.”
His mother spoke of the importance of being genuine, seeking happiness and working hard, which are pieces of wisdom Malouf hopes he has passed down.
Malouf’s children, in nominating him for the Greenwood Commonwealth’s 2010 Father of the Year, wanted to let him know they have been listening all these years.
His daughter Stella wrote in her nomination, “As I was away at college for the past year, I found my life a little off course, and I immediately found a solution to the problem with a quick phone call to home. Now that I am home for the summer, I am able to receive his advice and a positive outlook on life on a daily basis again.”
She went on to describe her father as humble, honest, wise and family-oriented.
“I have always put my family before my career,” Malouf said. “I always had a great relationship with my parents and was taught there is always time for church, prayer, family and a little piano-playing and singing.”
A Greenwood native, Malouf is the youngest of five children. Growing up in a Catholic family, he was used to having lots of family around — something he still enjoys to this day — and credits that atmosphere to helping him raise his own children.
Malouf attended the University of Mississippi, where he played football for the Rebels. He moved around for a while after college until his father asked him to join the family business, Malouf Furniture.
“I said, ‘Dad, are you sure?’” Malouf said. “He said yes, and I told him I would be there in two weeks.”
Returning to his hometown, he helped his dad and brother Alex take the already successful family-owned business to become one of the premier furniture stores in Mississippi. He also started dating Holli Pinkston.
“We are both Catholic, and our families were very familiar with each other,” he said. “Holli is quite a bit younger than me, so when I moved back and saw her walking down the aisle in church, I knew I wanted to marry her.”
They married in 1980 while she was a sophomore in college and built a life together in Greenwood, including having their three children — Matthew, 22, Stella, 19, and August, 18. The two oldest are already students at Ole Miss, and August will be joining them in the fall.
Malouf worked at Malouf Furniture for about 25 years before branching out on his own and opening Port Eliot, a high-end furniture operation, in downtown Greenwood.
“He attributes his decision to leave Malouf’s to being able to spend more time with us,” said Stella. “It’s neat to know you have a dad who puts his career aside.”
Stella laughs that not only does her dad spend time with their family but with her and her siblings’ friends as well.
“Our friends tag us in pictures of our dad just dancing or laughing on Facebook all the time,” she said. “Everyone loves having him around.”
Holli said her husband has always had a hands-on approach to fatherhood, and in return she tries to provide him with a peaceful home and happy family — something she learned from her mother.
“He coached their sports teams growing up and taught a lot of their teammates not just about the game but also about being a good team player,” she said.
Over the years, Holli said one of her favorite compliments came from one of her son’s teachers about how he treated everyone the same.
“Bill taught them that,” Holli said. “He has taught them that by example.”
After meeting and speaking to people from around the world through the furniture business, Malouf learned the importance of loving and caring for all people.
“Your life’s actions form your ideas,” he said. “Spreading love will help bring you some inner peace.”
Finding happiness is also one of Malouf’s key ingredients for a good life.
“When my children leave here, I want them to be thankful, appreciative and happy because we are all so blessed by what we have,” said Malouf.
Being able to spend time with his children is one of the biggest blessings for Malouf, and he thinks that time together has been the basis of forming a solid relationship.
“There is nothing I like more than hanging out with them,” he said. “We are friends.”
Although his children are growing up and starting to move out of the house, he is happy to let them have some space and for him to get back some of the sleep he has missed out on for the past 22 years.
“They know what their mother and I expect from them,” he said. “And if they make a mistake, it is they who will have to deal with the consequences and fix it. They are responsible.”
He believes his children have been raised to know right from wrong and, more importantly, to stand their ground when they are positive they are right.
“I taught them even if the other nine guys think you are wrong but you know you are right, hold your ground in a polite and humble way,” he said.
But he will always be there to protect his children and help them grow with strength and love.
“That is what a good man does,” he said.
Malouf admits that he has missed some things and has had to make some hard decisions between work and family over the years, but he finds strength in his wife and children.
“We all have faults, but we look for the strengths,” he said.
One of Malouf’s strengths is his undying love for his family and his hope for their success.
“All I want is for my children to live a happy and loving life — and go to heaven,” he said.
