From the playing fields of Hudson Falls Central to West Point, the University of South Carolina, and in his own business, David DeCamilla has distinguished himself as a leader ready to listen.
“Any success I may have had in athletics, business, and life, was because of the support, training, and leadership I had from first grade (at Margaret Murphy Elementary) to the present,” said DeCamilla, a 1966 Hudson Falls Central graduate. A distinguished football player, DeCamilla, the son of Lydia and Joseph DeCamilla and one of three brothers, was born March 8, 1948.
DeCamilla was co-captain and played on the Tiger’s undefeated, and unscored upon 1966 team. He served as Student Council President and played varsity basketball. Appointed to the USMA at West Point, he played football for the Cadets. On a football scholarship, he earned a degree in economics in 1970 from the University of South Carolina. At USC he was a three year starter and was twice named All Atlantic Coast Conference offensive tackle, and as a senior, Honorable Mention All American. He participated in USC’s Academic College Bowl and was named to South Carolina’s All-Time Football Team in 2009.
A Masters in Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State University in 1971 did not hamper him from being graduate assistant coach for MSU’s football program. In East Lansing, he met his wife, Jean, an executive with the Girl Scouts. Their daughter Emily is an accomplished tennis player and coach.
Dave coached football and wrestling at Carroll College in Wisconsin. He marketed health care plans, became an account executive at brokerage firms, and also commented and reported on finance on his successful public radio show for 11 years. Since 1998, Dave has been president and chief investment officer of DeCamilla Capital Management, an investment firm in Sacramento. For more than 20 years he has served as Chairman, Sacramento Employee Pension Fund. In 2010, he was named to the Capital District Football Hall of Fame. He continues to practice tennis and manage an olive ranch and olive processing business with his brothers.