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[65GT]

Leroy Wallis, a SaveWally supporter, passed away sometime in mid-June.  We've been told that Leroy was in his 90's.  Leroy was International President in 1986-87 and his wife Florence was and still is First Lady.  I'm going to post a few interesting stories (of which I'm sure there are many more) to this post but first:

In my last correspondence with Leroy he reported his units vote on the name change issue.  His June 7 email merely said, "Leo - 27 No and 13 yes."  I knew that was extremely brief for Leroy as we'd had a couple of lengthy exchanges prior.  Something wasn't right but I didn't ask what.  At international those votes transformed into something else completely and were cast as '17 No and 50 Yes.'  Oregon Unit members are looking into what took place.

I don't believe Leroy would have minded at this point if I share an email from him from when our campaign first launched.  I've debated this since I got back from International, but I think Leroy would believe in his absence it could do nothing but help the cause that we should stay the course and leave the name of the club WBCCI.  His email is unedited below:

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From: Leroy Wallis <lwallis@............>
Date: Apr 4, 2006 9:30 PM
Subject: SAVEWALLY
To: GARVEY Leo <savewally@gmail.com>

Leo:
 
Thanks for the email return!  Watch for the check that is in the mail!
 
You guessed wrong!  Florence will have nothing to do with a computer!!!!  And it is good to be talking to a person.  Thanks.
 
I want to take issue with a statement you made in your initial email to us.  You stated: "We're fighting hard and putting in hundreds of hours in this battle and we're nothing but regular members.”  This club has NOTHING IF IT DOES NOT HAVE 'REGULAR MEMBERS'!    Regular members are the ones who come to the rallies, who do the grunt work to make things happen, but at the same time are the ones who benefit most from their membership.  Don't ever say, "We're only regular members.  Hold your heads high and stand up for what is right!”  Thank you for being REGULAR MEMBERS!!!!!!!!!
 
You need to know that we are already in the process of preparing and mailing information on the campaign to Save Wally to every Oregon Unit Inc. regular member.  It will be done independently of my position on the Oregon Unit's Board of Directors and in the form of one regular member to every other of our unit's regular members.  It will be done at our personal expense so no one can offer a criticism of expense.
 
It is now planned that the Oregon Unit will include a mail ballot in the April Unit Newsletter for each regular member to mark and return.  The results of this balloting will be the basis for our Unit Delegate's vote on June 30th.
 
Thanks for the update information and the website will be monitored.
 
Leroy and Florence Wallis

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Leroy and Florence were not only moral support for SaveWally (our 1st 3-digit and only International Past President PUBLIC supporter) they were also financial supporters of SaveWally.org.  Leroy and Florence not only sent us a check, they took on the expense of sending SaveWally campaign letters to the entire Oregon Unit.

Leroy and Florence led far more interesting lives than just fighting to SaveWally.  After all the articles I've recently read it's not hard to understand why.  Leroy and Florence shared lives that proved the WBCCI club isn't dying.  Who wouldn't embrace the club for what it is, for what it's always been IF you were only able to lead Leroy and Florence’s' WBCCI lives.  This isn't ancient history folks -- this is recent history -- it's what WE are -- it's what WE aspire to be.  Given the time and the money who wouldn't jump at the chance to lead the Wallis' WBCCI life experiences!

Name changers be gone!  It's YOUR view that the WBCCI is dying.  It's YOUR view that this is no longer a caravan club.  It's YOUR view that we need to turn name and merchandise control over to Thor.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

Leroy and Florence proved daily that the club is alive and kicking.  If it's not happening for you -- get off your duff and make it happen -- that's what Leroy and Florence did!  Don't sit there and complain -- get up and DO!  Step up or step OFF!

Read on and see what real Wally Byam Caravan Club members did on a regular basis.

Thank you Leroy and thank you Florence for helping give credibility to the SaveWally campaign and for making everyone of us jealous of what you've been able to do within the Wally Byam Caravan Club!  We can only hope that someday...

Picture of Leroy Wallis attached.  If you have either a story or a photo of Leroy please post it!

[65GT]

From the press: (yet found at AirstreamForums.com)  Thanks Andy!

Travelers meet for Airstream's 40th
By Michelle Dunlop
Times-News writer
Sunday, July 25, 2004

When their mild-mannered son's seventh grade geography teacher summoned Florence and LeRoy Wallis for a conference, the couple admits they were a bit surprised. When the teacher accused their son, Kim, of having a problem telling the truth, the couple was amused.

"She said that whenever they would talk about a different site in the U.S., Kim would say, 'I've been there,'" Florence Wallis said. "She didn't think he could have been to all those places."

However, for families like Wallises of Portland, Ore., travel became a way of life once they purchased their first Airstream -- those shiny silver trailers resembling a rounded railway car. This weekend, Airstream owners who are members of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International will celebrate their regional chapter's 40th anniversary at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds in Filer.

Wally Byam founded his international organization nearly 50 years ago. During his teenage years, Byam worked as a shepherd and lived out of a small donkey cart around Baker City, Ore. He credited those formidable years as the inspiration for his Airstream trailers and motor homes

The Wallises purchased their first Airstream in 1963. In that same year, they participated in their first caravan, a trek through western Canada.

"That was a fantastic experience," Florence Wallis said.

"It's a good life," Wallis said. "We've raised our kids in it. It's a wonderful way to raise kids."

The Wallises originally decided to purchase an Airstream after seeing a documentary narrated by Vincent Price on television about the Wally Byam Caravan Club's famous journeys. Byam guided 27 caravans including nine to Mexico and one to Europe and Africa before his death in 1962. Today, club members can participate in a variety of caravans year round. Popular trips include the Michigan Lighthouse, Oregon Trail and Polar Bear Safari caravans.

After watching the program on Wally Byam's club, the Wallises decided it was time to experience the country themselves.

"The reason we started traveling is I taught geography," Wallis said. "And, how can you teach geography when you haven't been anywhere?"

In the 40 years since their maiden journey, the Wallises have led 37 international caravans, including ones to Europe, Australia and New Zealand. This year already, the couple have attended 10 or 11 rallies and participated in two overseas caravans. In August, they will head to Europe for another trip.

"We've enjoyed doing it," Wallis said. "I wouldn't do anything else."

The Wallises have somehow managed to miss two states in their travels: Oklahoma and Kansas.

"Next year, we're going to correct that," LeRoy Wallis said. "We have more fun than we have good sense."

Only owners of Airstream trailers and motor homes can join the Wally Byam Caravan Club. Its current membership stands at about 8,000. The members are organized into 12 regions, including region 10 -- the northwest organization holding the rally in Filer. Overall, the Airstream company and Wally Byam club organizes about 1,500 activities or more annually.

The club will hold an open house Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Club members invite the public to check out the sights and learn more about Airstreams. Perhaps some visitors will fall in love with Airstreams the way the Wallises have.

The Wallises' grandson, now 18, staked his claim to their Airstream at the age of 5 or 6. Florence Wallis said she wouldn't be surprised to find his name scrawled on the belly of their trailer.

"One day, he told us, 'Someday you're going to get old and you're going to die, and I'm going to get your Airstream,'" she said.

[65GT]

From the Oregon Unit December '05 newsletter:

Oregon Unit Director Leroy Wallis
By Marian Beckman

I suppose one could say Leroy Wallis is the Dean of the members of the Oregon Unit. He was a member when we joined back in 1976 and has risen to the top of the chairs in the Airstream Hierarchy. He is still an active member today in the Oregon Unit.

Leroy was born in South Dakota and he spent his early youth on a ranch. During WWII he and his brother were hired by the US government to work their farm for food for the troops. Later he joined the US Navy and became an Electronic Specialist.

In 1949 he met his Bride-To-Be Florence in Portland, Oregon, and married. Both he and Florence became school teachers in Willamina, Oregon, and later moved on to become administrator in the Portland School District, High School division, ultimately retiring from that position.

Early on they got the travel bug by starting with a self-contained pickup camper and then discovered Airstream from the old Vincent Price TV series on Airstream travel. Ultimately they purchased a new 1963 Bambi and Leroy's world became Airstream, joining the Oregon Unit in 1964 which led to being President in 1973-1974, and moving up still farther to International President in 1977. Leroy's love however is leading caravans, including one with over 400 people with Barney Lindeman around Oregon and another in 1976 called Caravan America which represented nine nations. In 1978 he guided a caravan to Europe which ultimately led to his currently operated overseas Caravans. He has led 37 Caravans to date.

There are many stories to tell about Leroy and Florence, especially how they first met and their adventures of touring the Civil War south, but space precludes this. Leroy's great interest is still in the Oregon Unit. He has done "heroics" for our unit, and best of all he is always there to help keep the Oregon unit going forward. Viva Leroy!