Bob Wallace
Bob Wallace in late 1977 (age 28)
BornMay 29, 1949 (1949-05-29)
Arlington, Virginia
DiedSeptember 20, 2002 (2002-09-21) (aged 53)
San Rafael, California
Known for9th Microsoft employee
Creator of PC-Write
Founder of Quicksoft
SpouseMegan Dana-Wallace

Bob Wallace (May 29, 1949 – September 20, 2002) was an American software developer, programmer and the ninth Microsoft employee. He was the first popular user of the term shareware,[1][2] creator of the word processing program PC-Write, founder of the software company Quicksoft and an "online drug guru" who devoted much time and money into the research of psychedelic drugs. Bob ended his Usenet posts with the phrase, "Bob Wallace (just my opinion)."[3]

Biography

Bob Wallace was born in Arlington, Virginia. He first worked on computers as a member of an Explorer Scout troop sponsored by Control Data Corp. in Bethesda, Maryland. His father was an economist who later became Assistant Secretary of the Treasury during the administration of John F. Kennedy.[1]

Beginning in 1967, Wallace attended Brown University, where he worked on the pioneering hypertext File Retrieval and Editing System with Andries van Dam and Ted Nelson.[4] After attending the University of California, Santa Cruz for two years (where he briefly majored in theatre), he received his undergraduate degree (1974) and master's degree (1978) in computer science from the University of Washington.[5]

Wallace worked at the Retail Computer Store in Seattle,[6] where he learned about Microsoft after Bill Gates put up a sign advertising for programmers. He joined Microsoft in 1978 as the 9th employee. His first project was to connect a computer to an IBM Selectric typewriter so the company could print software manuals.[4] He was a key developer of TI BASIC.[7] In the late 1970s, Wallace and Gates were known for their hijinks, and one incident involved breaking into a construction site and driving bulldozers, at one point almost running over Gates's Porsche.

In 1983, Wallace left Microsoft to form Quicksoft and distribute PC-Write using the shareware concept, which he helped originate.[8][9]

In 1996, Wallace and his wife, Megan Dana-Wallace, started Mind Books, a bookstore that offered publications about psychoactive plants and compounds. In 1998, they started the Promind Foundation, which helped support scientific research, public education, and harm reduction efforts related to psychedelics.

Wallace also served on the Board of Directors for the Heffter Research Institute and helped financially support the most important organizations in the field, including the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), the Heffter Research Institute, Erowid (responsible for half of Erowid's funding from 2000–2002), DanceSafe, the Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics, EcstasyData, Black Rock Arts Foundation, and a number of other projects.[10]

He died unexpectedly of pneumonia in San Rafael, California at age 53. On hearing of Wallace's death, Paul Allen was quoted as saying, "I remember Bob as a gentle soul who was soft-spoken, but creative, persistent and meticulous in his programming and thinking."

Northwest Computer Society

The March 1976 issues of Byte magazine had a notice about a new computer club in Seattle. Bob Wallace was listed as a contact person.[11] The Northwest Computer Club held meetings at the Pacific Science Center (near Seattle's Space Needle.)

Bob wrote a column for the newsletter called "Bob's Bits". From the February 1978 column:

"Microsoft is hiring systems programmer to work on APL, BASIC, COBOL, and FORTRAN for the 8080, Z-80, 6502, and 8086 as well as operating systems and other interesting projects. Applicants should have at least a bachelor's degree and a year of assembly language experience. Contact Paul Allen at (505) 262-1486, or write to them at 300 San Mateo NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Microsoft is the leader in microcomputer systems programming. I've applied myself, by the way."

One of Bob's club projects was to hold a Personal Computer Fair at the Pacific Science Center. The April 1978 show drew over 5000 people and had over 60 computers on display for visitors to use. Shortly after that show, Bob finished his degree and joined Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Fair was repeated in March 1979 and drew over 6000 people.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Mclellan, Dennis (September 27, 2002). "Bob Wallace, 53; Pioneer in Computer Software". Los Angeles Times. p. B–15.
  2. ↑ "Take Our Word For It". Words to the Wise, Issue 176. The Institute for Etymological Research and Education. 2002-11-14. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
  3. ↑ Bob Wallace posted to the usenet groups with the email address bobw@promind.com, His business email was books@promind.com. The Google Groups archive shows Bob's 1995 to 2002 posting at An example of his signature, "Bob Wallace (just my opinion)", can be seen in this February 29, 2000 post to alt.news.microsoft..
  4. 1 2 Markoff, John (2002-09-26). "Bob Wallace, 53, Software Pioneer, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
  5. ↑ Lazowska, Ed (November–December 2002). "The Soul of the New Machine" (PDF). Brown Alumni Magazine.
  6. ↑ Manes, Stephen; Paul Andrews (1994). Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry and Made Himself the Richest Man in America. Touchstone, Simon & Schuster. p. 94. ISBN 0-671-88074-8. "Bob Wallace was a programmer, organizer, counterculture figure, and employee of Seattle's laid-back Retail Computer Store."
  7. ↑ Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews (1993). Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry and Made Himself The Richest Man in America. Touchstone. ISBN 0-385-42075-7.
  8. ↑ Markoff, John (September 19, 1983). "Word-processing package costs $10 under new marketing scheme". InfoWorld. Vol. 5, no. 38. p. 3. ISSN 0199-6649.
  9. ↑ Watt, Peggy (June 11, 1984). "Software for a Donation". InfoWorld. Vol. 6, no. 24. p. 36. ISSN 0199-6649.
  10. ↑ Interlandi, Jeneen (July 2, 2008). "A Really Long Strange Trip". Newsweek. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Clubs and Newsletters: Seattle Club Activity". 1 (7). Internet Archive. Byte. March 1976: 74. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: others (link)
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