Following his graduation from Blair Academy, he attended Duke University, and later, graduated from the University of Maryland, while he completed his commitment as a Captain in the U.S. Army.
David, Ann & daughter Lisa moved to Raleigh in 1972, following his graduation from George Washington University Law School. He joined the law firm Hatch, Little & Bunn, having been recruited by Jim Little’s father, Jimmy Little. He retired from his partnership there in 2017.
In the late 1960s, David’s parents Esther and David were newcomers to Raleigh and had joined FPC, where later they were charter members of the Koinonia Class.
David, Sr. was a faithful member of the choir, and Esther was awarded a Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership for the many ways in which she contributed to the church’s growth and well-being. David and Ann joined FPC in 1974, and their children Lisa, Sallie and Hayes joined FPC in the late 1980s.
In our community, David has served on the Boards of Directors for Theatre in the Park, Carolina Sailing Club, and Presbyterian Homes, Inc. He is a long-time member of the Raleigh City Cemeteries Commission, and is active in the Raleigh Rotary Club. He is supportive of many Raleigh organizations and institutions, including William Peace University.
As an active member and Elder at FPC, David has served on any number of capital campaigns, operational committees, and search committees. He now enjoys Elder Emeritus status, but still serves on the FPC Foundation board. He has done several terms as president of his beloved Vanguard Class, and still serves as its treasurer. As a new grandparent, he served as a nursery volunteer for many years, becoming known as the “tattoo man” because his favorite activity was to put washable tattoos on the kids, which they loved.
David has long enjoyed delving into the church’s history, and has become somewhat of a self-appointed historian, particularly as that history relates to the Vanguard Class.
He is especially grateful to his church for having been able to endow the Lisa Ham Gathering Space, now named for his daughter Lisa, who died in 2010.
Lisa also received this award posthumously, so now he joins her and his mother in being very honored by FPC’s Presbyterian Women. Thank you.
Remarks prepared by Sallie Permar
March 15, 2020