LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Dr. Solomon Wallace, Sover-
eign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Northern Juris-
diction United States of America, Incorporated

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Solomon Wallace died on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, in
Jamaica, New York, at the age of 87; and
WHEREAS, Homegoing celebrations for Dr. Solomon Wallace were held on
Wednesday, April 6, 2016, followed by a wake and Masonic services on
Thursday, April 7, 2016, and funeral services on Friday, April 8, 2016;
and
WHEREAS, Born on October 8, 1928, in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Aycue
and Eliza Wallace, Solomon Wallace had seven brothers and sisters; and
WHEREAS, Solomon Wallace attended Shaw University, in Raleigh; after
moving to New York, he continued studying at City College of New York;
shortly thereafter, he met and married the love of his life, Gloria M.
(Brown); together they were the proud parents of one daughter, Winnie;
and
WHEREAS, After serving his country as a member of the United States
Army during the Korean War, Solomon Wallace received an honorable
discharge; he then went to work as an engineer for the Mayer Malbin
Company of Long Island, New York; he retired after 28 years of distin-
guished service; and
WHEREAS, In 1964, Solomon Wallace joined Samson Lodge No. 65 and was
elected Worshipful Master in 1968; he was also a member and Past Patron
of Gardenia Chapter No. 41, and an Honorary Past Grand Patron of Eureka
Grand Chapter, Prince Hall Order Eastern Star, Incorporated (State of
New York); and
WHEREAS, In 1967, he was one of seven Prince Hall Masons who founded
the Prince Hall Day Care Center, for children two to five years old; and
WHEREAS, Between June of 1983 and June of 1995, Solomon Wallace was
elected and served as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Most
Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge, State of New York; during his lead-
ership, his focus was on improving the Masonic Order and the development
of young people; and
WHEREAS, In August of 2006, Solomon Wallace became Sovereign Grand
Commander of the United Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite of Freemasonry, Prince Hall Affiliation, Northern Jurisdiction
United States of America, Incorporated; and
WHEREAS, He was the first Sovereign Grand Commander to serve from the
State of New York in more than 100 years; in May of 2007, he was elected
to his first full term; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, Solomon Wallace received the honorary degree of
Doctor of Humane Letters from Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio;
and
WHEREAS, Among his many accomplishments, Dr. Solomon Wallace estab-
lished the Grand Lodge of the Caribbean, computerized the Grand Lodge
Office in New York City, erected a Class "A" Coed Sleep Away Camp for
underprivileged children known as Camp Eureka; built a 97-unit apartment
complex for senior citizens named the Solomon Wallace Building - Prince
Hall Plaza in New York City; included sisters of the Prince Hall Order
Eastern Star (State of New York) in the Benevolent Fund; and introduced
and initiated numerous men into the Craft, including but not limited to:

Reverend Dr. Calvin Butts (Pastor-Abyssinian Baptist Church & President
of Old Westbury College); Congressman Charles Rangel (Congressional
Black Caucus & Chair, House Ways and Means Committee); Reverend Al
Sharpton (National Action Network and MSNBC); The Honorable David
Dinkins, first black Mayor of New York City; Reverend Jesse Jackson
(Rainbow/PUSH Coalition); and Dr. Louis Sullivan (Presidential Cabinet
Member and Secretary of Health and Human Services); and
WHEREAS, A dedicated community member, Dt. Solomon Wallace contributed
his time and energies to numerous organizations such as: the American
Red Cross, The Neighborhood Artist Program, The National Assault on
Illiteracy Program; National Association for the Advancement of Colored
People (NAACP); and Friends of Harlem Hospital; and
WHEREAS, As a direct result of his faith and dedication, Dr. Solomon
Wallace was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades, among them
are: the Humanitarian Award by the American Red Cross; The Gold Medal
Award, Top Honor of the United Supreme Council (Prince Hall Affil-
iation); and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Grand Lodge,
Free and Accepted Masons, State of New York (highest honor the Grand
Lodge confers); and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, Dr. Solomon Wallace was recognized by Ebony
Magazine as one of "America's 150 Most Influential Leaders"; he received
the Man of the Year Award by the New York City Chamber of Commerce, the
Life Membership Award by the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of
Elks of the World, and the Citizen Service Award by the Jamaica Service
Program for Older Adults; and
WHEREAS, In November of 2014, Sovereign Grand Commander Solomon
Wallace had the distinct honor of having a masonic lodge named and char-
tered in his name: the Solomon Wallace Lodge No. 125 was chartered under
the Administration of Most Worshipful Grand Master Dorian R. Glover in
Syracuse, New York, to operate in the city of Watertown, New York; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Solomon Wallace truly lived in service to his country,
his family and work, the community, and foremost his Masonic Craft; a
devout Christian, he was an Ordained Deacon for the New Jerusalem
Baptist Church of Jamaica, New York; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his wife of more than 56 years, Gloria M.
Wallace, Dr. Solomon Wallace is survived by his daughter, Winnie (Phil-
lip) Morgan; his devoted nephew, Wilton Larry Wallace; nephews, Michael
L. (Donna) Ransdell, Albert L. Wallace, Jr., Arthur Wallace, and Regi-
nald E. Wallace; nieces, Tracy Hicks (Dwane) Branch and Vanessa Rober-
son-Powell; and cousin, Odesa Wilbon Williams; as well as a host of
.SO DOC A R1187 RESO TEXT 2015
other relatives, friends, and his entire masonic family; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Dr. Solomon Wallace leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Dr. Solomon Wallace, distinguished citizen and
devoted member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Dr. Solomon Wallace.