Lila Bell Wallace

Who was Lila Bell Wallace?

Lila Bell Wallace was a United States magazine publisher.

Born as Lila Bell Acheson, her father was a Presbyterian minister who brought his family to the USA when she was a child, and she grew up in the Midwest. She graduated from the University of Oregon, taught at schools for two years, and then worked for the Young Women's Christian Association. She also studied at Ward Belmont.

In 1921 she married DeWitt Wallace, with whom she co-founded Reader's Digest; they published the first issue in 1922.

The Lila Wallace Reader's Digest Writers Award was given in her memory from 1990–2000.

On January 28, 1972, she was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Richard Nixon. In 1992, she was posthumously awarded the National Medal of Arts.

She died of heart failure after making philanthropic contributions estimated at $60 million.