Dwane & Velma Wallace Legacy
Program History | Dwane Wallace | Velma Lunt Wallace
Dwane Wallace in front of the newly-built Wallace Hall in 1977.
Dwane & Velma Wallace at a Scholar Brunch in the 1980s; Julie-Ellen Acosta (left)
coordinated the scholarship program.
Dwane Wallace's 1941 Cessna Airmaster NC32450.: In 1936, the Airmaster was recognized
as "The World's Most Efficient Airplane."
Dwane Wallace (second from right) and his test group in the 1920s at Wichita University.
Making news in Newsweek in 1954.
Program History
Dwane and Velma Wallace's early commitment to creating excellence in engineering education at Wichita State University makes them unique role models in the history of WSU engineering.
The Dwane and Velma Wallace Endowment was established at Wichita State University in 1976. The fund supports scholarships for engineering students, and provides funds for special needs of the College of Engineering. An average of 50 scholars receive the Wallace scholarship each year. Since the first Wallace Scholar graduated with a degree in engineering in 1980, the number of Wallace Scholar alumni has grown to nearly 300 at the end of this thirtieth year, with more than $3 million awarded.
Wallace Hall was built for the College of Engineering and dedicated in honor of the Wallaces on April 22, 1976.
Another great article on the history of the Wallace's is called Eyes to the Sky, by Connie Kachel White, and appeared in the Alumni Assoication's The Shocker magazine in 2012.
Dwane L. Wallace was a 1933 University of Wichita graduate of the aeronautical engineering program. Wallace, an aviation pioneer, was instrumental in reopening the Cessna plant that his uncle, Clyde V. Cessna, had been forced to close during the early days of the Great Depression. In January 1934, as general manager of the Cessna plant, he began the development of the famous Cessna Airmaster, which became known as the “World’s Most Efficient Airplane.” Wallace served as chief executive officer of Cessna Aircraft Company from 1935 to 1975, and under his leadership the company became the world’s largest manufacturer of general aviation aircraft and one of the nation’s top 500 corporations. Wallace was an active pilot and held a commercial pilot’s license, with multi-engine and instrument ratings. Over the years Mr. Wallace was honored with a number of prestigious awards. He was named Kansan of the Year in 1970, and General Aviation Man of the Year in 1971. He was a founder and the first chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. In 1975, Mr. Wallace was the first person from general aviation to receive the distinguished Guggenheim Medal from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. In 1957, he received the WSU Alumni Association Achievement Award, and the University named him to the Shocker Hall of Fame in 1980. In recognition of his distinguished professional career and his contributions to the development of the general aviation industry, Wallace’s alma mater honored him the Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree in 1982. Mr. Wallace died in 1989. In 1992, he was honored posthumously as the first recipient of the new Distinguished Engineer Service Award from the WSU College of Engineering. In 2013, he was posthumously inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
Velma Lunt Wallace
Velma Lunt Wallace shared her late husband’s interest in aviation. An avid pilot, she held a private license with both single and multi-engine ratings. During the years when their four daughters were growing up, Mrs. Wallace served as an active volunteer and board member with the Camp Fire Girls. She was also involved in many community organizations, serving on boards of the American Red Cross, Kansas 4-H Foundation, Music Theatre of Wichita and many others. Mrs. Wallace was an important member of our WSU community. She has received the President’s medal, is an Honorary Alumna and is honored in the Plaza of Heroines. She served as Honorary Co-Chariman of Campaign for Students from 1993-1995 and has served on the Elliott Advisory Council for many years. Mrs. Velma Wallace served as advisor for the Wallace Scholar Endowment fund and took a personal interest in the Wallace Scholars. Her focus on encouraging the scholars to be acquainted with one another, having a picnic each fall and a breakfast every spring, has been valuable for the program. With her influence a Wallace Scholar Council was created to assist in planning activities for the group. She took a great deal of pride in watching the progress of the students over the course of their time at WSU and stayed in touch with many of them after graduation. In addition to her commitment to Wichita State, Velma was deeply involved in the community at many levels, earning her the Wichita Area Girl Scout Council Woman of Distinction award in 1997, the Uncommon Citizen Award from the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce in 1998 and the National Conference for Community and Justice Brotherhood and Sisterhood Award in 2002. She was known for giving significant amounts to found Exploration Place and to support the Red Cross, United Way of the Plains and many other charitable organizations. In 2010, she was named the first recipient of the Wichita Aero Club Trophy, which honors those with strong ties to the Wichita area who have made significant contributions to the aviation or aerospace industries. Mrs. Wallace passed away July 8, 2012 in Wichita.