Kenneth “Kerry” Wallace, a co-founder of Texas-based manufacturer rep Forbes, Hever & Wallace, passed away Nov. 3, 2022, at the age of 70.
Wallace began his career in the foodservice industry after graduating college in 1971 and taking a hotel job in California. The hotel soon transferred him to the restaurant side, and he eventually moved to Dallas to become a hotel restaurant manager near the Houston Intercontinental Airport. He went on to work at Gerber Restaurant Supply and then later joined Garner Restaurant Supply, where he met Anne Forbes.
On April Fool’s Day in 1986, Wallace, Forbes and John Hever formed Forbes, Hever & Wallace, a company representing manufacturers of foodservice supplies and equipment in Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry (MAFSI) Region 15, which covers Texas and Oklahoma. The founders envisioned a company that offered a structure that helped employees build long-term wealth through employer-paid health insurance, retirement savings and profit sharing. The three partners made many sacrifices to realize their goals, enduring hardship, challenges and dozens of ups and downs, but together were able to weather it all.
Wallace retired in December 2015 and married one of his best friends from high school and college, Rondina Phillips Muncy, on April 29, 2017. Wallace is survived by his wife; his sister, Patricia "Trisha" Macko (Vic) of Stockton, California; and his brother, Gregory "Greg" Wallace of north Texas. He is also survived by his three stepchildren, Samantha Muncy Orndorff (Philip) of North Carolina; Natalie Muncy Smith (Brandon) of Pensacola, Florida; and Matthew Muncy (Margarett) of Fort Worth. His parents, sister Pamela "Pam" Jett (Al), and son Patrick Marlowe Wallace predeceased him.