University of South Dakota Athletics

History

David Walish established the endowment fund in honor of long-time USD faculty member Dan Lennon.

Walish graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1958 with a B.A. in mathematics and a minor in finance. He was a track and football letterman during his college years, 1954-58, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the USD Letterman's Club. His professional career began in 1961 with IBM, moving a few years later to Univac Data Processing.

In 1968 he went to work for Boothe Computer Corporation, of San Francisco, to develop the computer leasing and brokerage marketplace for the world trade operations of the company in London, England. Between 1970 and 1973 he continued in the computer leasing industry with Itel of San Francisco and Telex Computer Products in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After forming and completing the development of Telex's leasing company, Walish and two partners formed the Capital Marketing Corporation in Concord, Calif., which placed $82 million of full payout and operating leases of IBM computer products. Walish sold his interest in Capital Marketing and moved to Fresno, Calif., in 1974 to form Lease Marketing, Inc. The company was sold in 1979.

In 1982, Walish founded Comlease, Inc., continuing to serve as President and CEO at the establishment of this endowment in 1997. The company has more than 2,700 customers with $112 million in lease receivables. Walish has been active in industry associations, serving as panel moderator and speaker at meetings of the American Association of Equipment Lessors and the Western Association of Equipment Lessors.

His oldest daughter, Jody Bower, graduated from USD in 1980 with a management degree from the School of Business. Jodi's husband, Dr. Tom Bower, graduated in 1978 with a B.S. in chemistry, with a pre-med specialty, and is now Assistant Head of the Vascular Surgery Department at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Dave's youngest daughter, Kristen Walish, graduated from San Diego State University in 1990 with a Bachelor's Degree in Child Care Development. She is a full certified ski instructor and supervisor for Alpine Meadows Ski Area at Lake Tahoe, Calif. Dave's son, Michael Walish, graduated from San Francisco School of Recording Arts in 1987. He is an electronic technician for RUNCO Corp. in Fremont, Calif.

Fund Notes

Started in 1997, earnings generated are used to provide awards in honor of Dan Lennon to incoming freshman planning to participate in football and/or track and field events on behalf of the University of South Dakota.