Reflections on a tech trendsetter

His resume includes stops at AT&T, Peapod and World Stream

by Jaycie Regnier

Bill Malloy, ’74, has always sought new opportunities that have led him to success. Although he never imagined that he would have a career in mass media, Malloy’s optimism and open-mindedness planted seeds of interest for his future career in the field.

Bill Malloy loves to stay busy and continue to explore and learn new things. He currently lives in Chicago, Illinois, and remains very involved at Washburn.

“I have enjoyed helping people and re-engaging with the university,” said Bill Malloy.

He and his wife, Malinda Malloy, have continued to support students each year. For the 2023 Day of Giving, the Malloys set up a $5,000 gift match.

“We are very thankful for Bill and Malinda Malloys’ generous support for our program,” said Maria Stover, professor and chair of mass media. “It comes at a crucial time for mass media as we grow our program and educational impact.”

With the help of Bill Malloy and other contributors over the years, the program has made significant improvements. He has made great efforts to become familiar with our current mass media department as well as making guest speaker appearances on campus.

“I’ve had the pleasure of meeting with Bill on several occasions,” said Stover. “He is one of those people who has an amazing ability to predict trends in our field. It’s a true honor to call him a mass media alum.”

Bill Malloy encourages all mass media students to stay diligent and ready for new opportunities.

“I always say it’s best to build a book,” said Bill Malloy. “Look around Topeka because there’s a whole world of experience and meaningful jobs that will help you hone your craft in the real world. Lastly, never underestimate the power of curiosity, hard work and persistence.”

Bill Malloy started working at an advertising agency in Oklahoma City and maintained that job throughout college and eight years after.

In 1985, he started working with a client, Craig McCaw, who was in the cellular business. The company started with 17 people and grew to over 10,000 when it became AT&T Wireless. He had various executive positions there involving digital networks and marketing.

In 1999, Bill Malloy became CEO of NASDAQ-listed Peapod and then CEO of World Stream. He continued to work with different early-stage technology companies and joined Sprint as the chief marketing officer.

Bill Malloy retired from Sprint in 2014 and continues to advise companies. But, before Bill Malloy’s successful career, he said he was just a kid trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life.

During high school, Bill Malloy started working for the local newspaper in his hometown of Clinton, Oklahoma, where he acquired writing and photography skills, but he never envisioned himself doing this for a living.

Bill Malloy took an interest in Washburn’s School of Law and was offered a scholarship, so he decided to attend. Once he arrived in Topeka, he searched for work and was offered a job at Topeka News.

“Being in Topeka and going to Washburn was this unique combination for me of amazing companies wanting to take a chance on a kid in college to do real work and build a book, and instructors that helped me get better at my craft,” said Bill Malloy.

Tom Marten, a good friend of Bill Malloy’s, graduated from Washburn in ‘73.

“Bill was always very bright and energetic,” said Marten. “We were both inquisitive people, which would sometimes cause us to get into interesting conversations that would last for hours and hours.”

Bill Malloy and Marten enjoy sending each other news articles and have remained good friends over time.

“We’ve had one of those extraordinary friendships that have lasted all these years,” said Marten. “I don’t know a single person who doesn’t greatly admire Bill.”

The two were in the Fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon and were pledge brothers, which is how they became best friends.

Bill Malloy’s student experience was “action-packed” between class, work, and other things he was involved in on campus.

“I would often run on four hours of sleep a night, but I loved it,” said Bill Malloy.

Early in his college career, Bill Malloy decided to explore different majors, such as psychology, political science, and journalism. He became interested in working for the Topeka Capital-Journal but was eventually swayed toward advertising.

“Professor Doug Fender, the Journalism 101 professor, was a key figure when I was a student,” said Bill Malloy. “He helped me figure out my interests and gave me the idea to shift toward the creative writing and advertising route.”

Bill Malloy joined a group called the Student Goals Committee. John Henderson, the president of Washburn at the time, formed this committee.

“We came up with a self-serving idea called pass-fail with the idea of helping those students who struggle with classes outside of their major,” said Bill Malloy. “It was also a great opportunity for exploration.”

Bill Malloy and the Student Goals Committee also pushed the idea of getting the “machine room,” which was a room filled with typewriters and calculators.

“The machine room was a legendary thing to push through,” said Bill Malloy. “It was helpful for all students, especially if we had to run to the lab and write something quickly.”

A big goal for Bill Malloy and his peers was to establish a more prominent mass media presence at the university, as the communications department had only about five to six graduates. Jean Folkerts, one of his professors, was very transformative to the program as she introduced her students to journalists and writers of the time.

“We had enough of the professors in there who made enough of a difference at the time to help get the program where it is today,” said Bill Malloy.

While working at the Oklahoma agency in college, Bill Malloy was a writer but he also took on various photography and media editing jobs.

“By the time I worked for the agency and took the journalism class, I was still unsure of my major,” said Bill Malloy. “Fender pulled me aside and asked me, ‘Why don’t you major in this? You like it, don’t you?’ I really do. I enjoy creative writing and the rush of deadlines.”

After Washburn, Bill Malloy attended Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and graduated with a management degree.

Since Bill Malloy’s time at Washburn, the mass media program became its own department with its own identity, providing multiple concentrations for students in the program.

“Identifying Bill as one of our first graduates is exciting,” Stover said. “His story brought to light the early history of the department. I also find it important for current students and alumni to be aware of the spectacular trajectory of his career.”