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This week, Wallace Distribution celebrated the retirement of long-time employee Richard Snowden, who served the company for 61 years.

“Richard’s reputation in our industry is one of genuineness, respect, and great relationships,” said Doyle Wallace, President of Wallace Distribution. “His dedication to his work and his fellow co-workers has made him one of the best employees a company can have.”

It was early 1962, when a seventeen-year-old high school student came to Wallace Hardware to meet with John D. Wallace, who was president of the company at that time, about purchasing an ad in the McDonald High School yearbook. The student was unaware that Mr. Wallace had a policy of not taking yearbook ads, because Wallace wanted his business to go to the company’s retail customers.

That afternoon, the student managed to talk Mr. Wallace into buying his first ad in a high school yearbook.

Impressed with the student’s ability to sell the ad, Mr. Wallace decided to make him an offer. “Young man, when you graduate, I’d like for you to stop by my office for a job,” he told him.

The student’s name was Richard Snowden, and upon his graduation that summer, he was hired at Wallace Hardware. Richard worked part-time while attending the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

In the fall of 1966, he joined the Marine Corps Reserves, going to boot camp and serving some weekends.

After returning from Marine Corps training in 1967, he served in the Industrial Sales Division, eventually becoming the supervisor.

In 1985, Richard was promoted to Vice-President and Sales Manager of the Hardware Division. He became head of sales and marketing, leading a team of nearly forty salespeople including the inside staff of sales.

“My father promoted Richard to grow the sales division within the company, and Richard went above and beyond his assigned duties,” said Doyle Wallace.

In 2009, Richard became Senior Vice-President of Marketing where his duties included managing the PRO and Farm Mart stores program, store design, merchandising program, show design, marketing funds management, and working with the sales team on program implementation.

On Friday, August 25, 2023, during a special luncheon at First Baptist Church, co-workers from Wallace Distribution joined some of the company’s vendors, manufacturing reps, and customers in celebrating Richard’s profound career and sharing heartfelt memories that were made with him along the way.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Richard for thirty years, and I’ve always been amazed at how he was able to make things happen no matter how difficult the problem or project,” said Ed McKinney, Vice-President of Purchasing at Wallace Distribution. “I’ve often wondered how he had time to sleep and rest with all the different duties he took on at Wallace Distribution while also pastoring a few church congregations and serving on the board of Greene County Farm Bureau.”

“Richard has been an encouragement to me in all aspects of life, and he’s always been a great leader and friend,” said Eddie Flynn, Vice-President of Sales at Wallace Distribution. “I’ve learned a great deal from Richard over the years, since 1982 when I had the great honor of taking over one third of his sales territory.”

“Richard Snowden represents the very definition of success, not just because of his personal and professional accomplishments, but even more because of the uncompromising values and integrity that have defined his career and his life,” said Maury Ford, National Factory Representative of W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company. “His success has been defined by relationships, and he invests himself in those relationships wholeheartedly. Richard’s work ethic and commitment to Wallace Distribution have set a benchmark that few could ever achieve.”

Those who gathered to celebrate Richard Snowden’s retirement echoed one particular phrase that best defined how Richard would be remembered within the company — as a legend.