Leo Wallace, Jr.

Mr. Leo Wallace, Jr., 97, of Salisbury passed away at his home January 7, 2010. He was an outstanding business and real estate leader, and was born August 14, 1912 to Leo Wallace and Ella Belle Wallace. He was a graduate of Boyden High School and graduated from Catawba College in 1934. Mr. Wallace was a well known leader and visionary in the business community since the 1940’s. His contributions to Salisbury’s civic, cultural, educational, and religious interests have been numerous. He was an active member of First Presbyterian Church, serving as Deacon for 9 years, and as chairman of the finance committee during the building of the church in 1968. On December 6, 1941, the day before Pearl Harbor, he married Virginia Shaver Wallace. He served as Lieutenant, Supply Corps, in the U.S. Naval Reserve on active duty during World War II. They returned to Salisbury after the war. Leo and Virginia had 3 children, Lee, Suzanne, and Victor. Mr. Wallace was deeply devoted to his family and lovingly encouraged and advised them through all their life’s endeavors. He was Chairman of the Board of Belle Realty Company, Wallace Realty Company, and Hotel Group of Salisbury, which he continued to be involved in the daily operations until age 95. In the 1920’s he helped organize the first tennis team at Boyden High School, and in 2004 he donated a tennis court to the now Salisbury High School. Mr. Wallace was a dedicated and active member of the Chamber of Commerce, serving as President in 1942 and 1950. The Lobby of the Chamber of Commerce Gateway Building is named in his honor. His achievements with the Chamber were important and numerous for the past 70 years. Among those recruitments were the VA Hospital and Fiber Industries. His fundraising efforts helped the development of the Rowan Memorial Hospital through the years. Mr. Wallace spent 50 years as a valuable asset on the boards of the Salisbury First Union Bank and its predecessors. He served as Chairman of the Building Committee of the original Rowan Public Library. In 1973, he received an award for recognition of 36 years of service as a Trustee of the Rowan Public Library. Mr. Wallace played an important part in the development of Salisbury for the past 70 years. He spent his entire life helping to develop Rowan County, recruiting hundreds of businesses and creating thousands of jobs. In 1957 he became a Real Estate Broker. During the 1960’s he was instrumental in organizing the Downtown Improvement Committee. In 1971, he joined the NC Industrial Developers Association. In 1958, Mr. Wallace built the Holiday Inn on I-85 with his brother Charles Wallace. In 1988 he built another new Holiday Inn, which won the “Torchbearer Award” for being one of the top hotels of Holiday Inn Worldwide. The award was received by all the members of his family in New York City in 1990. In 2005 he was awarded the Holiday Inn International’s Spirit of Giving Award. He received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Service Award in 2005, the Lions Club Outstanding Community Service Man of the Year Award, and the Realtor of the Year in 1988, and the Chamber Champion Small Business of the Year 1999 for Wallace Realty Company. Catawba College’s O.B. Michael Outstanding Alumnus Award was presented in 2006 to Mr. Wallace. He established the Virginia and Leo Wallace First Family Scholarship at Catawba College. Mr. Wallace was a faithful steward in the careful preservation and restoration of the lovely family home on South Fulton Street since 1927. The home was featured on the October tour many times. Most recently, the Wallaces were chosen to receive the 2009 Clement Cup, Historic Salisbury Foundation’s highest award for those who exhibit superior commitment over a sustained period of time and for meticulous stewardship of one of Salisbury’s most prominent homes. He was an avid golfer and loved to fish and travel. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Shaver Wallace, son, Leo Wallace, III and his wife Mona Lisa, daughter Suzanne Wallace Casey and her husband John, and son Robert Victor Wallace and his wife Vickie all of Salisbury, NC. Also surviving are his six grandchildren: Mac Duskin, Jr. of Charlotte, NC and Bangkok, Thailand, Wallace Duskin of Salisbury, NC, Whitney Wallace of Charlotte, NC, Jason Wallace of Charleston, SC, Daniel Wallace of Charlotte, NC and Lane Wallace of Asheville, NC and his sister-in-law Margaret Armstrong of Salisbury, NC. A visitation will be held on Sunday (Jan. 10) from 3-5:00 PM in Lewis Hall at First Presbyterian Church. The funeral service will be Monday (Jan 11) at 1:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church conducted by Dr. Jim Duncan and Dr. Randy Kirby. Burial will follow of Chestnut Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 308 West Fisher St., Salisbury, NC 28144; Rowan Helping Ministries, PO Box 4026, Salisbury, NC 28145; and Catawba College, 2300 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Wallace Family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Leo Wallace, Jr.

August 14, 1912 - January 7, 2010