David “Dave” Burleson — a former president of the home builders associations of Tennessee and Knoxville, NAHB senior life director and trustee with the National Housing Endowment — died in Ft. Myers, Fla., on Jan. 18. He was 77.

A graduate of the University of Tennessee who founded the Dave Burleson Construction Co. in Knoxville, he was a prominent builder and developer in the East Tennessee area. One of his favorite projects was the Landmark Golf Course at Avalon in Lenoir City, Tenn.

Burleson was named builder of the year by the Tennessee HBA in 1981, and in 1994 he was inducted into the Tennessee Building Industry Hall of Fame.  

At NAHB, he was a member of the Executive Board, served as a national vice president, chaired the State and Local Government Affairs Committee in 1992 and served on numerous committees, including Nominations, Conventions and Meetings, Public Affairs and Associate Members.

He continued his active service on the NAHB board through 2011 as a senior life director.

He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Brooks Burleson; son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Julienne Burleson of Knoxville; daughter, Sherron Burleson of Jupiter, Fla.; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.