Remembering Todd Wallace
• Todd Wallace, legendary air talent, programmer, consultant, owner, and a mentor to many in our industry, died Wednesday, Sept. 28 at his home in Mesa, AZ. He was 75.
Born Thomas Arthur Mueller on April 18, 1947, in Wichita, KS, Wallace began his radio career at age of 15 in his hometown as “Todd Wallace, III.” a.k.a. “TW the 3rd”. He spent the next seven years at KLIF/Dallas, KIMN/Denver, KILT/Houston, CKLW/Windsor-Detroit, and KEZY/Anaheim before joining KRUX/Phoenix in 1970 as the morning man. Within six months, he was promoted to PD, thus, beginning his celebrated programming career.
In 1972, Wallace was recruited to turn around the ratings at KTSA/San Antonio, which he achieved in four months. Gary Stevens then convinced him to return to Phoenix as the PD and morning talent at KRIZ. In late 1974, Wallace was called in to fix the ratings for KLIF/Dallas-Ft. Worth, which was quickly accomplished and received national attention in the broadcasting community. That lead to the opportunity to return to Phoenix as the VP of Programming for KUPD. In 1976, Wallace partnered with renowned sales consultant Ken Greenwood in launching his research company, Radio Index. Under the umbrella of Radio Index, he launched Todd Wallace/Associates, which achieved world-class status in the late ’70s by advising over 100 radio stations worldwide. Wallace became known across the globe as “The Godfather of Radio Research.”
Wallace went on to own KZKZ/Flagstaff, AZ from 1980-83, and he spent the later years of his radio career in senior roles with AM/FM in Phoenix. Wallace retired from broadcasting in 2013 while continuing operate Radio Index. In 2014, after 51 years of mastering his craft in the radio industry, Thomas Arthur Mueller was inducted into the Arizona Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame under his professional radio name, Todd Wallace.
Wallace is survived by his brother, Rick Mueller, his children, Cherish Forbes, Noel Khan, Anthony Mueller, Brandon Mueller, and Diego Flavio Lamas Medina and five grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 11am-2pm at Dobson Ranch La Casita Recreation Center at 2719 S. Reyes, Mesa, AZ 85202.
Todd Mueller adored the cats he had throughout his lifetime, so, in lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to make a donation to your local Humane Society chapter. [Special thanks to Noel Khan and David Gariano]
