Ed Wallace, the veteran automotive critic whose sharp insights and accessible style made him a household name across North Texas airwaves for nearly three decades, has died at his Fort Worth home. He was 72.
Wallace, who spent 26 years as the automotive voice of FOX 4’s Good Day morning show before retiring in 2022, passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2025, according to station sources.
A Voice That Drove the Industry
For countless North Texas drivers contemplating their next vehicle purchase, Wallace’s straightforward reviews and no-nonsense approach offered a trusted roadmap through an often confusing marketplace. Beyond television, he hosted the popular radio program “Wheels with Ed Wallace” on KLIF 570 AM, where his automotive expertise and candid commentary attracted a devoted following.
His journalistic achievements extended beyond local fame. In 2001, Wallace received the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award for Radio, recognizing his outstanding contributions to business journalism — a rare distinction in the automotive reporting world.
What made Wallace’s approach different? Perhaps it was his blend of technical knowledge and everyday practicality that resonated with viewers and listeners alike. He could break down complex engineering features while never losing sight of what actually mattered to the average driver.
Legacy Behind the Wheel
Wallace’s influence extended beyond his media presence. As the founder and owner of Mogul & Mogul Productions in Fort Worth, he built a business around his automotive expertise, further cementing his reputation in the industry.
Even in his final years on air, Wallace maintained his characteristic candor. When reviewing the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander, he didn’t mince words: “Car critic Ed Wallace says the new Outlander could be Mitsubishi’s best product in 20 years,” noted a FOX 4 segment featuring his assessment — the kind of straight-talking evaluation that became his trademark.
Throughout his nearly 30-year career in North Texas journalism, Wallace built a reputation as someone who couldn’t be swayed by industry pressure or marketing hype. His career spanned enormous changes in both automotive technology and media landscapes, yet his approach remained refreshingly consistent.
Wallace’s retirement in 2022 marked the end of an era for morning television in Dallas-Fort Worth, leaving behind a legacy that influenced how consumers approach vehicle purchases and how journalists cover the automotive industry.
In a world increasingly dominated by influencers and sponsored content, Ed Wallace represented something increasingly rare: a critic whose opinions you could trust were truly his own, unvarnished and uncompromised — just like the man himself.
