Kingwood United Methodist Church
February 18, 1998

First, it is my honor to have been asked to help celebrate David Roberts' life.  As you can imagine though, having Dave looking down on us today makes choosing the proper words difficult.  Dave didn't believe in slow play or a lot of explanations - just hit the shot and tell the score.  Dave, I'll try.

Dave Roberts was the leader to a group - virtually all whom are here today - that play golf every Saturday morning at 8:30 A.M. at Deerwood Club.

"The Colonel" - we named him several years ago - has been the Saturday morning group's leader for a decade.  It was not a job he sought - it was just the result of the natural respect we all had for Dave.  Our own Saturday morning group grew from a foursome to a twenty or thirty something with Dave's command.  He had also been the leader of similar couples groups at the Trophy Club and Deerwood too.  He was a natural leader.  The Saturday Morning Group and its members are a reflection of "the Colonel".  It is made up of people from all walks of life who simply share Dave's love for the game of golf.  You can be a CEO or be between jobs - Dave probably didn't know or care what any of us did for a living as long as we didn't complain, cheat or play slow.  The group has grown because any of us who were lucky enough to join - knew it was special.  And each of us remembers David and how we had to receive his approval to become a member.

In my own case, I showed up at Deerwood one Saturday morning and the pro shop fit me into a rare opening in the group.  I had a great time, went back the next Saturday and asked the pro shop if I could join the guys again.  I assumed it would be no problem.  The answer was "you have to ask Dave Roberts".  They told me he was hitting balls on the range - he's the guy in knickers.  I figured this had to be one flamboyant fellow.  I went to the range and stood behind Dave as he whacked five irons without any notice of me.  I cleared my throat a few times - Dave kept hitting balls.  I finally coughed loudly and David looked back at me - as an obvious distraction to his practice.  I nervously introduced myself, told him I'd played the previous week and wanted to play with the group again today if possible. He looked me up and down and then just said "We'll see." With that he returned to hitting balls while I stood around awkwardly for the next twenty minutes - waiting "to see".  It was much easier asking for my wife's hand in marriage.

David was very competitive - whether it was with the Saturday Morning Group or a mixed couples tournament. The Colonel didn't like to play for much money but Boy - you didn't want to be his partner and miss a short putt with a dollar on the line.

Whether it was the famous Tidy Bowl tournament in Dallas or Dave and Sally's DeerHunt Invitational here, Dave's competitive spirit knew no gender.  He believed in equality on the golf course.  Dave would just as soon beat Sally or Debbie Allen as Dave Brancato or Dave Gregoria.  All of us in the Saturday Morning Group remember when Dave got into a golfing slump several years ago.  While he was uncharacteristically shooting high 80's and winning no money, the Colonel suddenly decided to keep track of all our scores and the resulting money winnings on his computer.  Dave's intent was to see if the Saturday Morning game was "fair".  This went on for several months.  The more Dave lost, the greater the threat of a change to our normal betting methods.  Then, suddenly Dave's slump disappeared.  On back to back Saturdays, the Colonel shot in the mid 70's and was the real big winner both weeks.  With that, Dave's final verdict was in - the game was fair and Dave's tracking of all money winnings quietly ceased.

To all of us who knew him, Dave Roberts was an uncommon man.  He didn't take many vacations because he didn't really need anything outside his family, his Austin co-workers and his golf friends.  But then the few times Sally was successful in dragging Dave away - whether to Las Vegas, Hawaii or Scotland, he loved it!  Pictures and journals tell the story.  He was a simple "black and white" person without all of the shades of gray most of us have.  And whether it was golf, business or family, David always did the right thing and expected the same of others.  He didn't agonize over decisions like most of us.  He instinctively chose the right way both simply and quickly.

Dave treasured his friendships.  Dave and Sally make friends for life as evidenced by the Behans, the Daytons and the Johnsons from their Trophy Club days some 15 years ago, as well as the Westons, Jensens, the Dunns, the Nowaks, the Gayoks and so many others here at Deerwood. Dave left his legacy to each of us.  To our Saturday Morning Group, the Colonel showed us humor and courage in recent years - never complaining about bad shots or bad luck. Dave would never have tolerated any open sympathy, but by watching Dave's bravery with quiet admiration, we became very close with Dave and one another.  It is today a group of men who now hug openly without embarrassment.  Like Dave's friendships, we too have become friends for life. We're also committed to keeping the Colonel's spirit with us every Saturday morning.  All of us - whether we play golf or not - knew how much Dave loved his family.

When you are at the Roberts' home, family pictures of brother Jim, Sally, the kids and his grandchildren makes the wallpaper invisible.  The love and friendship between Sally and David was evident to all.  Their love affair started in Ottumwa, Iowa almost 50 years ago and only grew stronger through the years.  There have never been two people more devoted to each other.  If we asked, Dave would tell us his children are his greatest accomplishment.  The sheer joy in his eyes when he talked about his children and grandchildren completely betrayed Dave's normal understated Midwestern reserve.  David was so proud of Carin, Carole, Chuck and Cristen and the outstanding individuals they have become.  Each of Dave's kids have the same close commitment to their spouses and children that they always saw in their parents.  Dave's family are his magnificent legacy to all of us who know them.

The best way I can sum up my celebration of Dave's life is one simple sentence:

We are all better people for having known Dave Roberts.

Thank you.