Longtime civic leader John Wallace remembered for generosity, kindness

Longtime business and civic leader John Wallace died Sunday night after a very brief illness.

He leaves behind not only Jane, his wife of 50 years, three children and six grandchildren, but scores of friends who were shocked and saddened by his unexpected death.

“He was the most generous, kind, giving person I ever knew in my life,” said his best friend Dan Wilson. “He taught me the true joy of giving.”

Wallace, 70, former owner of Wallace Wood Products, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce in March for all the ways he promoted and supported his adopted city.

When he accepted the award, Wallace said he had always enjoyed serving Demopolis.

“Meeting new family through the community and working to make Demopolis a better place never felt like a chore to me,” Wallace said.

“He had a great big, huge heart and a contagious spirit,” said his friend and fellow Rotarian Bill Meador.

“He did so many things behind the scene that nobody knew was happening,” Wilson said of his friend.

Among other things, Wallace served on the DACC Board of Directors and the Industrial Development Board, was a member of the Robertson Banking Company Board of Directors for 22 years and held many leadership roles in the First United Methodist Church.

He strongly supported Rooster Day, was past president of the Demopolis Rotary Club and was involved in anything that supported the city.

Meador also said Wallace and other spent countless hours each year for the DHR Project: Merry Christmas.

Services for Wallace have not been made. He will be cremated and will be interred at the First United Methodist columbarium.