Dave Timberlake - Life of Impact!
By: J. David Chapman/January 25, 2024
The Timberlake family recently lost the patriarch of their family. Timberlake Construction lost the founder of that great company. The state of Oklahoma lost one of the most impactful construction and business leaders who served on many boards and commissions. The construction industry and Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma lost a former president, “Builder of the Year,” and Hall of Fame of Building inductee. First Presbyterian Church in Edmond lost a faithful servant, as did Downtown Rotary Club 29. Personally, I lost a client, mentor, and friend.
Dave did hard things. He did things that other people couldn’t do and that most people would not want to do. Because he was tasked with doing difficult projects, I frequently got to interact with Dave over the years in my role as an executive coach, city councilman, real estate commissioner, and real estate academic. He was uniquely qualified to do things that most people could only dream. He prepared early in life to do these things and continued learning and staying active until he went to be with the Lord earlier this month.
He prepared early through athletics, band, and achieved Eagle Scout status. He completed an engineering degree at OSU and joined the Army Corps of Engineers, where he served from 1965-1968. During his time in the Army, Dave attended Basic Combat Engineering school, completed the Advanced Construction Management Course, and was an instructor at Ft. Belvoir. Dave was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in 1965 and 1966 for his Meritorious Service in the Dominican Republic during its Civil War. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in nine states and also held contractors’ licenses in 43 states. This preparation and achievement made it possible for Dave, and Timberlake Construction, to do the hardest, most impactful projects that have brought increased quality of life to our community.
Dave frequently emailed me in response to topics I would discuss in this column. We shared a love for Grand Lake and Monkey Island where we both raised our families, and his company made a huge impact with quality projects. We shared a love for boats. We shared a love of flying. We shared a love for family. He was a gentle man but had the unique ability to be stern and hold people accountable. His daughter-in-law said it all when she told me, “He really was the best man I’ve ever known.”
– J. David Chapman is professor of finance and real estate at the University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu)