Alumnus Wallace Sherertz, Broadway, Film and TV Personality, Passes

Wallace K. Sherertz, a.k.a. Michael Shelle, a 1963 graduate of Hardin-Simmons University, passed away on February 14th from complications from pneumonia.

Singing and acting from the time he was six years old, Sherertz became a full time professional actor at the age of 50 following a successful career in teaching. 

Sherertz and his wife Peggy (Graham ’62 B.S.) moved to New York City, so Sherertz could pursue full-time his passion for acting. Under the stage name of Michael Shelle, he appeared in the international tour of “Camelot”(starring Richard Harris) as Merlin and other supporting roles, the first national tour of “Titanic,” a variety of productions in New York City, and regional theaters throughout the country.  

Sherertz appeared in principal and supporting roles in regional and stock shows such as: “Park Your Car in Harvard Yard;” “Beyond the Horizon;” “A Man for All Seasons;” “Our Town;” “South Pacific” (Emile); “Brigadoon”; “1776; The Radio City Christmas Show” (Myrtle Beach – Santa); “Captains Courageous;” “Fiddler on the Roof” (Tevye); and many others.

He acted in guest appearances on TV: “7th Heaven,” “Law and Order,” “The Guiding Light,” “All My Children,” and on film in “Kate and Leopold,” starring Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman. 

Sherertz also served as a writing tutor at the Borough of Manhattan Community College.

He was born in Washington, DC, on January 13, 1936. He graduated from Arlington High School in Arlington, VA, and joined the Marines, where he was named the Recruit of the Year. At HSU, Mr. Sherertz was a Cowboy Band soloist, a founding member of Tau Alpha Phi, and an actor in theatre productions.  

Upon graduation from HSU, “Wally” Sherertz become a high school math teacher, textbook co-author, and, later, teacher association executive director. All the while, he actively performed in principal and supporting roles in regional and stock theater, playing the lead in shows like “Shenandoah,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” and “The Most Happy Fella.”

In 2015, Sherertz received the Distinguished Alumni Award from HSU. The award is given to alumni whose personal and professional accomplishments are exemplary of the ideals and aims of the University.

Sherertz visited the HSU campus in March 2015 to encourage and speak to students. Sherertz mixed humor and real-life experiences to tell the story of how HSU shaped him and set him on the path to success in all aspects of life.

Sherertz encouraged students to always seek help and trust in the Lord. 

“Trust that help will come…but maybe not in the way that you asked for it,” he said.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Peggy; daughters: Shae D’lyn, and Kim Lashelle Tucker; grandchildren: Tristyn Sherertz; Lauren Sherertz Eagle; Addison, Graham, and Grayson Tucker; and great-grandchildren: Silas Sherertz and Michalan Eagle; sisters: Barbara McCollum, Patricia Norris; brother: Bill Dabney. His son, Michael Kent Sherertz, pre-deceased him.

(Source: http://www.northernvatimes.com/fauquier/obit-article/wallace-k.-sherertz-aka-michael-shelle)