Published on December 11, 2024 by Anne Madison Adcock  
Gary Cooney with Steinway piano

Samford’s School of the Arts received a transformative gift from Gary Cooney, a 1974 alumnus and longtime supporter of the university. Cooney's recent donation honors Malcolm Miller, a 1950 graduate of Howard College, and his late wife, Betty, two beloved figures in the Samford community known for their unwavering support of the university for the past 43 years.

The story of this generous gift is rooted in a decades-long friendship and shared passion for Samford.

Fifty-one years ago, Miller hired Cooney for his first job at McGriff, Seibels & Williams Inc., sparking a connection that has lasted a lifetime. Shortly after Miller’s retirement, he encouraged Cooney to network within the Samford community and use his success to “pay it forward”—advice that has clearly resonated. Since then, Cooney has significantly impacted Samford’s campus in many ways, including naming gifts for Brock School of Business’ Cooney Hall and the Sullivan-Cooney Family Field House.

This time around, Cooney envisioned a unique gift to honor the Millers’ legacy: a state-of-the-art Steinway piano, personally selected from the company’s New York headquarters. Lance Beaumont, dean of the School of the Arts, Joel Davis, chair of the Division of Music, and Cindy St. Clair, associate professor of piano, traveled to New York in October to choose the piano.

In discussing the unique gift, Cooney told Miller, “I see it as a way of touching a lot of people. That’s what you’ve done for me in my life. This was an opportunity to put together something different and unique in the way of honoring you and Betty.”

In response, Miller said, “It was an investment well made. The things that you do—that you don't have to do—will make you what you are when it’s too late to do anything about it. That’s what I see in you, and on Betty’s behalf, I’m very thankful.”

The Steinway features Spirio technology, delivering high-resolution playback of performances by world-renowned pianists.

This gift provides students with cutting-edge technology while exemplifying mentorship, friendship and the impact of giving back. The Steinway will inspire Samford students’ musical journeys for years to come.

Click here to watch a conversation between Gary Cooney ’74 and Malcolm Miller ’50.

This story was first published in the fall 2024 issue of  Seasons magazine.

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.