Wally King

By Pam Ripley

Wally King was born in Washington and lived his entire life here, except for his time away from 1944-47 when he proudly served in the U.S. Navy during and after World War II. Shortly after Wally returned from active duty, he worked in the construction business and settled into that trade. He eventually started his own company, Wally King & Son Construction Co., and was owner and operator for over 40 years, building many houses in Washington and doing commercial work. He had a reputation as a top-notch contractor and was liked and well-respected in the community.

After Wally retired as a contractor, Mayor Don Gronewold asked him if he would consider being a building inspector. Wally and Vernel Martin were the first building inspectors for the City of Washington. Building codes were adopted on March 6, 1995, and Wally was hired as Building Inspector on May 31, 1995, to enforce the building codes.  He was the City’s Building Inspector for 22 years, retiring in 2017 at 91. He holds certifications from the International Code Council as a building inspector, commercial building inspector, residential building inspector, and residential electrical inspector. He was a member of the Illinois Protective Officials Conference and the International Association of Electrical Inspectors. He attended various conferences and meetings over the years to expand his knowledge.

Wally was an asset to the Building Department and a respected member of the building community. He took great pride in his work, and his dedication following the November 17, 2013 tornado was commendable. Contractors spoke very highly of Wally. A contractor once told his supervisor that Wally was the only inspector he learned something from. 

Wally shared a vision with the Washington Historical Society.  Wally and some other notable age mates met and provided important insight through personal stories about "their" town.  He was always a willing and energetic participant.  

Wally and his wife, Evey, were married for 62 years until Evey’s passing in 2012. They raised three children, Pam, Dave, and Lori, who still live in Washington and have raised their families here.

Wallace J. King – Born May 15, 1926 – Died December 25, 2017