David was born and raised in the Village of Port Henry, a hamlet in the town of Moriah, New York. Following his high school graduation in 1960, he successfully completed a four-year New York State accredited Industrial Electronics Apprenticeship training course in addition to several college-level courses and seminars in business, advance writing, advanced math, computerized electronic control systems, power distribution and controls, labor-management auditing and finance, workplace health and safety, and the IRS and State Attorney General Tax Exempt Charities Symposiums. David spent his thirty-seven year career in industrial electronics and safety and retired from International Paper in Ticonderoga, New York, in 1999.
David was initiated into Whitehall, New York Lodge No. 1491 in February 1975. He immediately became active with the Youth Activities Committee and served as the Lodge Organist and Chaplain. He transferred his membership to the Ticonderoga, New York Lodge after moving to nearby Crown Point in 1978. Here, he served as Lodge Chaplain, Esquire, and Organist and was active on many committees and fundraising activities. He proceeded through the chairs and served as Exalted Ruler in 1989, PER Association Chairman in 1990, and Lodge Trustee from 1988 to 2004 and was District Editor and Public Relations Chairman from 1993 to 1996.
David served the New York State Elks Association as State Vice President in 1990-1991, as Community Activities Chairman from 1995-1997, as State Editor from 1997 to 2002, as State Secretary from 1999 to 2009, and as State President in 2009-2010. He introduced the Dictionary Project to the New York State Elks Association in September 2003.
David served the Grand Lodge as District Deputy in 1994-1995, as a member of a Grand Lodge Steering Committee, as Trustee Chairman overseeing the financial assets of a defunct Lodge from 2002 to 2010, and as a member of the Board of Grand Trustees from 2006 to 2010. He introduced the Dictionary Project to the Grand Lodge in July 2004.
David has served as a member or officer of several conservation organizations and has served on the hospital board, school board, and board of fire commissioners. He is also a member of the volunteer fire company, Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, Jaycees, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and is a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security. In 2008, David was awarded President Bush's USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Service Award by then GER Paul Helsel.
David and his wife, Penny, have four children: David, who lives in Skiatook, Oklahoma with his wife, Kim, and son Branden; John, who lives in Whitehall, New York, with his wife Ann, and sons John Jr., Jordan, Anthony and Austin; Lisa, who lives in Addison, Vermont, with her husband, Tim Davis, and their sons Timothy and Michael; and Claire, who lives in Sherman Oaks, California, with her husband, Charles Butterworth, and their daughter, Willow.
David and Penny are active in their church, Sacred Heart Church of Crown Point, NY, where Penny serves as a member of the choir and David serves as choir accompanist.
David believes strongly that "Elks Give from the Heart" because Elkdom, like patriotism, is in the hearts and souls of our members.
|
