By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
Every morning Don and Pat Wallace pay a visit to Donald on the back porch of their Yukon home.
Just steps away from the neighborhood pond, the legendary fisherman and his wife, a legend herself, feed the duck Pat named after the famous Walt Disney cartoon character. Donald knows where to go when it comes time for breakfast, eating straight out of Pat’s hands as any well trained pet would. The Wallaces care so much for their feathered friend they even had a neighbor save him from the pond after it had frozen over a few years ago.
Don and Pat enjoy a comfortable life east of town, Don living it up in over 30 years of retirement, with Pat right along his side. Just like during fishing trips to Canada or Mexico, the two still talk about their favorite and most impressive catch from one body of water or the other.
Don is well known as a premier outdoors television host for nearly 40 years in Oklahoma, hosting the “Wallace Wildlife Show” after coming up in the business as a radio announcer and disc jockey. He is also a member of the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame after decades of hard work and honing his craft, starting in high school in southeast Kansas.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to be in high school until I took a six-week course in radio announcing,” Wallace said. “And after the course I was voted most likely to succeed. So then I figured I could make a career out of it and it would be an easy way to make a living.”
Wallace’s love for fishing matched his early love for broadcasting. He grew up fishing streams and ponds and the Neosho River in Kansas. But it would be some time before he would combine his two passions, spending years announcing radio drop-ins and working long nights as a disc jockey. He practiced by reading newspaper articles over and over, out loud.
“It kept me busy. Working those long hours and being a disc jockey is hard work,” Wallace said. “I would be announcing, producing, editing, hosting. I did everything.”
Wallace worked at a number of stations across the state before landing at WKY in Oklahoma City in 1958. He continued to work long nights, but after a few years he finally convinced management to give him a shot. He began hosting “Wallace Wildlife Show” as a 15-minute segment in 1965 and his vision became a success.
“I knew that there were a lot of people that enjoyed fishing and hunting,” Wallace said. “It was also a passion of mine and something I loved to do. So I was in some ways ahead of the game. They ran the show when Doctor Welby MD was on the air and it ended up getting a good response and became a success.”
Wallace finally reached prime time in 1971 with the late Bob Barry as his immediate supervisor. After years of success on the radio, he turned to television and continued to host his show until he retired in 1989. Altogether the show aired for 23 years. Counting reruns it ran for over 40 years.
Don and Pat continued to fish and host fishing trips to all parts of the world up until nearly three years ago when Don needed hip replacement surgery. They met and formed friendships with many people, including celebrities and caught fish from many different countries. The finest catch displayed in the house belongs to Pat, a northern pike she caught just three years ago in Northern Saskatchewan. But Don also likes to show off his nine-pound bass.
“It’s the biggest one I ever caught,” he said. “Really, walleye is my favorite fish to catch because it’s my favorite to eat.”
They spent over 20 years living off Lake Texoma, spending spring and fall fishing in Oklahoma while traveling to different countries during the summer or winter. Don only has one rule before you step on the boat with him. You have to take his five-minute course in photography.
“Pat knows that anyone with me has to know how to use a camera,” he said. “Because if I’m going to catch a fish, I want to show it off.”
The two now enjoy fishing stories and reminiscing about shore lunches as they look out at the sunset that shines over their backyard pond. And they enjoy Donald’s company as he waddles up to Pat for a bite to eat.
“Not all of us can say they were able to make a living doing what they love,” Don said. “I’m one of the lucky ones I guess.”
