Developer Wallace Woodbury dies

A longtime attorney and president and chairman of the Woodbury Corp. died this week.

Wallace Richards Woodbury died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, in his home town of Salt Lake City. He was 81.

Mr. Woodbury took over management of the Woodbury Corp. in 1957 from his father, F. Orin Woodbury, who founded the company in 1919. Wallace Woodbury's eldest son, W. Richards "Rick" Woodbury, took the helm of the corporation in the mid-1970s.

Following his graduation from the University of Utah in 1947 and George Washington University two years later, Wallace Woodbury practiced law and developed real estate for 57 years. He was a principal in several law firms that included his name, most recently Woodbury & Kesler.

Mr. Woodbury also joined with a few relatives to form the Richards Woodbury Mortgage Corp., which was sold in 1986.

Under his leadership, Woodbury Corp. developed retail, office and hotel projects in several states, including Kmart centers across the country, the first McDonald's in Utah and the University Mall in Orem.

Active in the International Council of Shopping Centers, Mr. Woodbury also served in a voluntary role with various real estate associations. For 17 years, he was chairman of the National Association of Realtors' Federal Tax Subcommittee.

Mr. Woodbury and his wife of 56 years, the late Beverley Clair Beesley Woodbury, also were philanthropists, contributing to the U., Brigham Young University and Utah Valley State College. UVSC's business school was named in honor of his parents, F. Orin and Nina R. Woodbury. The philanthropy also resulted in the establishment of UVSC's Woodbury Art Gallery.

A funeral will take place at noon Monday in the Emigration 21st Ward at Second Avenue and K Street. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.