Rod Weinzierl, Executive Director of IL Corn, shared heartfelt reflections on the 35+ years he worked alongside Dave. Their paths first crossed in 1988 when Dave was with the Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources. At the time, Dave was already deeply immersed in work that spanned energy sources critical to the state - coal, oil, and a promising newcomer: biofuels.
Dave wasn’t just a collaborator he was a bridge-builder. Whether it was helping fund research, launching ethanol buses in Peoria, or orchestrating large-scale expos at the State Fair, he always knew how to bring people together. Thanks to his efforts, the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center was born, supporting innovation across the entire U.S. ethanol industry.
But Dave’s greatest contribution wasn’t a program or a project it was the people.
“His calm demeanor, laid-back personality, and subtle way of supporting others made him a favorite in every room he entered,” said Mark Lambert, former IL Corn communications director. “He was likely the smartest and most level-headed person in the room, no matter if it was a boardroom, the halls of Congress, or a NASCAR track.”
His legacy lives on through deep, enduring partnerships with engineers, government labs like Argonne and Oak Ridge, and institutions like the University of Chicago. These connections opened doors and kept IL Corn at the cutting edge of research and policy.
Dave was even a trusted advisor to some of the brightest minds in the field, like Dr. Michael Wang, architect of the GREET model used around the world.
Dave also helped open conversations with groups not always in our corner like the Lung Association and environmental stakeholders always seeking common ground.
In the end, as Rod put it, “Dave’s legacy is the relationships he created - relationships that helped grow the uses of corn and built trust where it mattered most.”
We will miss his intellect, his optimism, and his quiet wisdom. But more than anything, we will miss our friend.
Rest in peace, Dave. Your impact is everywhere.
