Dwane Wallace was born in Belmont, Kansas and graduated from the University of Wichita in 1933, with a degree in aeronautical engineering. After three months at Beech Aircraft, he resigned to become the general manager of the Cessna Aircraft Company. In 1934, he designed the C-34, the first new model introduced by the company since it’s reopening. Dwane became president of Cessna Aircraft, after his uncle, Clyde Cessna, retired in 1936. For the next 39 years he nurtured the company into the world’s largest manufacturer of general aviation aircrafts. Wallace was a prominent figurehead in most industry trade groups, and was instrumental in founding the major manufacturer’s organizations of his time. He has also been honored with many community and industry awards, including the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Uncommon Citizen” award and the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.