Trade Regrets: Thomas C. Walter

A sales and marketing force behind many of the top names in pro audio, Thomas C. Walter passed away on January 16, 2021. With a career spanning six decades, Thomas was widely recognized for his efforts on behalf of Community, JBL Pro, Sound Advance, Quam, and others.

Thomas was a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Art, where he studied graphic art and illustration, two disciplines that would serve him well along with his communication skills to promote the very best the industry had to offer. Within the scope of his vision during the late 1960s, professional audio was destined to become one of the critical enhancing elements of all entertainment and communications, a belief that soon came to pass. An early disciple of Don and Carolyn Davis’ SynAudCon principles, Thomas worked tirelessly to improve the professionalism of the industry and took an active role in the objective scientific documentation of loudspeaker performance while working with many audio luminaries.

A lover of all genres of music, especially jazz, Thomas is survived by Barbara, his wife of 40 years, and will be missed by countless friends and colleagues spanning the globe, who remember him for his quick wit, wry quips, soaring language, and a sardonic sense of humor that always expressed the truth regardless of whether it was uncomfortable or not.

“Thomas was supremely knowledgeable when it came to audio and acoustics technology,” former longtime business partner and good friend John T. Wiggins remarked upon hearing of his passing. “He truly understood how things worked and fit together synergistically. He was a critical thinker, visionary,  and mentor who brought color and life to even the most bureaucratic companies. His inner voice was much more real than anything in the material world. He made me laugh every day, and I, like so many others, will miss him dearly.”