Hardware Retailing The Industry's Source for Insights and Information
With the vision to create a successful wholesale hardware business, W.B. Whittaker, S.M. Holtsinger and D.M. Wallace chartered the Whittaker-Holtsinger Company in 1922 in Morristown, Tennessee. In 1932, D.M. became president, and in 1944, he changed the name to the Wallace Hardware Company, Inc. D.M.’s brother J.G. and his son John D. would follow as company presidents, and in 2008, John D’s son Doyle began serving in the role.
Along with being a household name in the independent home improvement channel, the Wallace family also has a legacy of service in the U.S. military. The latest members of the Wallace family to serve in both the independent industry at Wallace Distribution Co. and the military are Doyle’s sons John Wallace and Michael Wallace.
John has been a member of the Tennessee Army National Guard since 2010, serving as a Blackhawk pilot out of the Medvac unit in Knoxville.
“I’ve always felt a strong sense of duty to serve the wonderful nation we live in,” John says.
Michael joined the Army National Guard after graduating from high school in 2014 and served for six years.
“We have a number of veterans in our family, so that has always made me want to join and serve,” Michael says. “Ultimately, I love my country, and I wanted to serve it.”
Michael drilled at 278 Cavalry Regiment in Mount Carmel, Tennessee, headquarters, and trained as a “68 Whiskey,” which is the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) code for combat medic specialist.
“When I was going in, I remember my mom was pretty worried, and she told my dad to help me pick a job in intel so I would be safer,” Michael says. “I was looking at those jobs and couldn’t see how I would ever use those skills again, but when I looked at the combat jobs, I thought those were skills I could always use, even if I didn’t become an EMT outside of the military. When my mom found out I had picked combat medicine, she was pretty mad at my dad, but it worked out.”
Service Goes On
The camaraderie and brotherhood that have come along with his time in the Army National Guard are John’s favorite parts of serving.
When it came to his time in the service, Michael says his favorite part was the routine, especially during training.
“You are definitely always tired at the end of the day and ready for bed, because you’re waking up early and you’re eating well and doing a ton of physical labor,” Michael says. “They squeeze a lot of activity in a short amount of time. For instance, it normally takes nine months to become an EMT basic but we did that course in two months.”
During his time in the Army National Guard, John has also been a part of the Wallace Distribution Co., currently serving as vice president of operations.
“My family has been serving independent dealers for over 100 years; it’s been an honor to step into that legacy and serve them as well,” John says. “As in the military, there is a deep vein of loyalty, trust and brotherhood within the independent hardlines market. Our market is filled with honest and hardworking people that support each other.”
While he loved his time in the military, Michael says he knew he wanted to serve and then move to what was next, which was back to the family business, where he had been working since age 11.
“Whether I was washing trucks out on the farm or helping give birth to baby cows, I’ve always had a part with the company,” Michael says.
Now he serves in the same sales territory in the Knoxville area that was his grandfather Doyle’s territory when he was Michael’s age. Michael’s uncle Lynn Dawson and John also did a stint in this territory. Beyond the medical skills he gained from his time as a combat medic, Michael has utilized other skills in his role in the independent industry, including punctuality, efficiency, leadership and more.
John has found that his military skills also cross over, and says his experience has given him better judgment for how to earn the respect of those following him, how to challenge teammates to reach their full potential and how to support his team in stressful times, like peak season during a show.
“In my time as an Army officer and pilot, I was able to serve alongside many remarkable and talented individuals. In many ways, managing soldiers during military operations is much like managing teammates in a business, with lower stakes,” John says. “The military teaches servant leadership, leading from the front and a genuine care for your soldiers. I’m thankful to have that experience.”
Those experiences make military veterans a good fit for the independent channel, John says, as they have been tested under extreme amounts of pressure and responsibility, and this exposure and general broadening allows them to bring tremendous value to the organizations they serve.
“The military teaches many things, but I think that service members are generally going to understand how to contribute to a team, lead a team, work a problem from different perspectives, ignore the noise in a situation and get results,” John says. “I believe most service members are going to have experience with technology and administration that will aid them in areas they wouldn’t expect. I also think that specifically in the hardware channel, service members will fit right in with the hardworking and relationship oriented industry that we operate in.”
Paying Tribute
While there is no way to repay the sacrifices made by veterans of the armed forces, the North American Hardware and Paint Association (NHPA) recognizes that not only have these individuals made a lasting impact on their country, but they are also a prominent and positive influence within the home improvement industry.
To honor the ongoing impact military veterans make throughout the home improvement industry,
NHPA launched the Helmets to Home Improvement recognition program, with the National Hardware Show (NHS) as the program’s official founding sponsor and venue partner.
We need your help honoring these amazing men and women. Please visit YourNHPA.org/veterans to nominate a Helmets to Home Improvement honoree.
