Lust For Life: Honoring David Lust

DAVID LUST 1968-2021

David was a leader with so many initiatives to better our region. He loved the Black Hills and South Dakota. When we were considering engaging someone to take the lead for housing efforts, David was the only choice. David Lust could walk into any room, be instantly respected, and clearly communicate a message with both diplomacy and humor. He will be dearly missed but remembered and revered as we all work to move forward. - LIZ HAMBURG, BLACK HILLS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Rarely do you meet someone that you instantly recognize there is something different about them. In 2005, while serving as Chairman of the Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce, David was a member of the Board. Our first conversation felt like catching up with an old friend. The following week, I received a card from him that was so inspiring and authentic. He always managed to say the right thing at the right time in very few words. I knew then what was different about him. David embodied a set of characteristics that made him exceptional. He was sincere, genuine, brilliant, loyal, reliable, and visionary. We met regularly for lunch at Murphy's to “solve the world’s problems." We would often run into people who want to talk to him about a project they are working on or just say hi. David had the natural ability to bring the conversation to a level easily understood by all. Our loss, as a community, can’t be overstated. I can speak for many of us who are fortunate enough to be David’s friends that his departure leaves a void in our hearts that can never be filled. - QUSI AL-HAJ, SEN. THUNE'S OFFICE

Most people know there are three topics that make for terrible conversation: Politics, Religion and Money. Most people…but not David! I recall a short road trip I had with David and two other colleagues towards the end of 2020. We were barely out of town and David went right into the issue of politics. We bantered back and forth on past and upcoming legislation, and what it meant to be an effective legislator. We no sooner finished the topic of politics and went right into religion! As you might expect, no one was willing to give an inch on that topic. We debated back and forth for likely an hour. Oh boy, I thought, now on to money, but we were arriving at our destination. I guess two out of three ain’t bad! I’m going to miss the talks, bantering, and debating with David, but most of all I will miss his humor, his support and his friendship. - ALAN SOLANO JOHN T. VUCUREVICH FOUNDATION

When I think about the past, I think about all of the amazing things that David did for our community and the legacy that he leaves. When I think about the future, I think about how much I will miss my friend; but I also think about the amazing things David would want us to do for our community and the legacy he would want us to leave. - DARREN HAAR COMPLETE PROPERTY SOLUTIONS

One of my fondest memories of Dave was coaching alongside him at Canyon Lake Little League. We coached together for 2 seasons and I really got to know Dave as a person. Those two years showed me his commitment to his family, the community, and how deeply he valued integrity in his decision making. I also quickly realized you better bring your ‘A’ game to combat his quick-wit and dry sense of humor! Through this experience we forged a solid friendship. As anyone who had the privilege of getting to know Dave at a personal level would consider him a friend. I’ll miss you my friend! - TOM WEAVER FIRST INTERSTATE BANK

David brought sparkle or insight to every conversation and he often simultaneously mastered both. The result was to disarm you, make you laugh, and think. You considered ideas you didn’t intend to pursue but were fascinated to follow. This brilliance was to meet common ground, find value in others, and plant collaborative seeds of growth. His legacy will endure, and our sorrow will subside as we cultivate what he gave us. - JENNIFER TRUCANO RAPID CITY MEDICAL CENTER

I first met David when I interviewed for the Elevate CEO position. Lust wasn’t the type to take it easy on anyone, so he went right after my background of working two years at a university. “Tom,” he said, “are you sure your time as an academic won’t hurt you in a fast-paced job like this?” Are you kidding me? I thought. Twenty-plus years managing economic development organizations and two years at a university makes me an academic? But instead, I searched for an answer...and searched... and had nothing. Then I looked back at Lust. "I swear to you," I said as he sat with his wry little grin. And then a few more seconds passed… Lust knew he had me, and I knew it too. Just as we were nearing the ten-second rule (as if it were a basketball game), I pulled out my best jujitsu move: “No,” I said. “It will only enhance my ability because I understand better how we can work with the School of Mines.” A week later I had the job, but Lust never lost that grin. I realized it was his superpower. It got him in and out of hard conversations the way a motorcycle weaves in and out of traffic. You could never stay mad at him, no matter what he said, what he did, or how many lists he had for me as CEO (and he had a lot of lists!). A week before David’s passing, we met to talk about the future of Elevate. I complained about our funding (which I did no matter how much we had). He flashed the grin as he teased me for wearing a vest in 90-degree weather. “It’s going to be okay,” he said as he kept grinning. “No one ever said this job was going to be easy.” Somehow, I knew he was right. If I just kept smiling, somehow things would work out. And that is the lesson I give to you now: Keep smiling. Life is too short. Have a little fun while you’re here. Things are going to work themselves out in the end. Until then, rest assured, David Lust is somewhere flashing his wry grin, getting himself (or someone else) in and out of some trouble. - TOM JOHNSON, ELEVATE RAPID CITY