Gene and Donna Mallak believed in the value of an education. Donna attended school to learn how to use the Comptometer, one of the first commercially successful mechanical calculators. With this education, she was able to find employment in the auditing/accounts payable department of Sears, Roebuck & Company for 38 years. Gene received a scholarship to attend college. He was able to find steady employment at Eaton, Yale & Towne Manufacturing in Saginaw.

Both Gene and Donna usually had more than one job. When Gene was 16, he helped start a band. Later, the band became amplified which, in the early 1940s, was very unusual. Due to health issues, Gene was unable to continue in the band. He took his amplification equipment and created Gene Mallak’s Sound Systems. Amplification sound systems were new at time, and the business was quickly successful. Gene continued to work at Eaton, Yale and Towne on the third shift so he could attend the amplification business during the day. Donna soon became his secretary/bookkeeper while still working in the auditing department at Sears, Roebuck & Company.

The Gene and Donna Mallak Memorial Scholarship was established by their daughter Jeanne in honor of the tremendous support they gave her to pursue her college dreams. Her hope is that this scholarship will provide the same support for those who receive this award to also pursue their dreams.