Larry Wallace
BY AAGD STAFF
(October 25, 2011)—Larry J. Wallace grew up in Oakland, California and attended Merritt Community College there in 1983. Wallace earned an Associates of Arts Degree in Business Administration and received a basketball scholarship to Eastern Oregon State College in LaGrande, Oregon where he played as an all-league point guard and received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Business Administration.
“My late father, James Wallace, was a collegiate basketball player for Montana State University,” he says, while strongly believing that his teenage son Marcus has the ability to be a better basketball player than either of them.
Wallace serves as Director of Law Enforcement for Attorney General Kamala D. Harris for the California Department of Justice. He has been in law enforcement for 26 years and is the first African American to ever hold this position.
“I am totally committed to helping Kamala D. Harris become the best Attorney General the State of California has ever had, he says. Ms. Harris has the distinction of being the first African American woman to become Attorney General in the State of California.
Wallace says, “I was introduced to golf by my Lieutenant and a Sergeant of my narcotics unit at the Berkeley Police Department. I like playing golf early in the morning because, it is relaxing and I enjoy meeting new people outside of my profession–Also, the challenge of the game gives me a chance to forget about the stress involved with my job.”
Wallace is a member of The Brothers Golf Club and has a golf handicap of 11.2. The Brothers Golf Club consists mostly of individuals from the greater San Francisco Bay Area who get together weekly to play. Membership is made up of ex-professional athletes, teachers, salesman, firefighters, bus drivers, and many other occupations. “The only thing we have in common is that we are all African Americans and we love the game of golf,” says Wallace.
The avid Los Angeles Lakers and Kansas City Chiefs fan has been married for 17 years to Trina Wallace and the couple has two children: a daughter Bria (15), and son Marcus (13). Bria, a high school sophomore, excels on the cheerleading team, while Marcus—named after the Hall of Fame running back, Marcus Allen—recently ranked as the 13th best 8th-grade point guard in the country at the Adidas Jr. Phenom Camp (San Diego, Calif.). Wallace exposed both of his children to golf, but neither of them likes to play; although, lately, Trina has asked about taking golf lessons.
Wallace, age 48, enjoys taking part in the California Police and Fire Games and love watching Tiger Woods play golf. He also has lots of options for playing rounds at his gated Brentwood golf community residence where nearby are four beautiful courses. On average he plays golf about 3 times a month and has taken lessons at his home course from Dane Hudson.
“I like taking lessons because it makes me focus on the fundamentals of the golf swing. I would also like to spend more time at the driving range and play more rounds, but the demands of my job won’t allow it right now,” candidly declares Wallace.
