The Epitome of a True Gentleman

Remembering Brother David M. Lance (Cincinnati ’56)

One afternoon, nearly twenty-five years ago, undergraduate Jay Hummel (Cincinnati ’02) was visiting Dave Lance’s river house when he wandered down the hallway looking for the bathroom.

Instead, he opened a storage closet.

Inside were shelves lined with plaques, trophies, framed certificates, and awards collected over decades. There were honors from Sigma Alpha Epsilon, recognitions from the University of Cincinnati, business achievements, and civic awards… enough to fill a room if Dave had wanted them displayed.

Confused, Jay asked Dave, “Why were they hidden away?” Dave’s answer became one of the greatest lessons Jay would ever receive. “Jay, those things don’t matter. What matters is the people I met and the experiences I had for people to give those awards to me. People matter more than recognition.”

For those fortunate enough to know Brother David Milton Lance, that single sentence explained everything. Before he was Eminent Supreme Archon, a Distinguished Service Award recipient (#92), a successful businessman, or one of Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s most respected leaders, Dave was a man who believed people always came first.

When Brother Dave Lance entered the Chapter Eternal on June 29, 2026, at age 93, Sigma Alpha Epsilon lost one of its finest examples of The True Gentleman.

A Bid That Changed Everything

Born on February 23, 1933, to David M. and Rachel (Hughes) Lance, he grew up alongside his younger brother, Tom, before enrolling at the University of Cincinnati in 1951. While pursuing a degree in Industrial Management through the university’s renowned cooperative education program, he accepted a bid from Ohio Epsilon in the spring of 1952. This was a decision that would shape the next seventy-four years of his life.

Ohio Epsilon became more than the place to call home while Dave attended college. It became the foundation for a lifetime of leadership, service, and brotherhood. It was also where he met his wife, Julia “Judy” Cotes. The couple married during spring break of Dave’s senior year, beginning a partnership that would span seventy years.

Together they raised five children: Laurie, David Jr. (Cincinnati ’81), Keith, Ken, and Doug (Cincinnati ’89). Their family grew to include grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, and generations of friends and SAE brothers who always found a welcome invitation to the Lance home.

Dave’s obituary read, “His greatest joy was creating places where family and friends could gather.” He spent a lifetime doing exactly that.

Dave and his wife of over 70 years, Julia “Judy” Cotes.

A Leader in Business and Brotherhood

After graduating in 1956, Dave entered the securities industry before he and his brother Tom pursued what they considered their dream business: Arby’s Roast Beef.

Beginning with a single franchise in North Olmsted, Ohio, they built Restaurant Management, Inc., eventually operating more than thirty restaurants throughout Greater Cincinnati and the Tri-State region.

When Arby’s faced financial uncertainty in the early 1970s, fellow franchisees turned to Dave for leadership. Richard Hopple (Cincinnati ’70) recalled, “In the early 1970s, the Arby’s company was facing bankruptcy. Dave and the franchisees formed a committee to save Arby’s. The committee adopted many of the practices of Dave’s 35 Cincinnati Arby’s, including Dave’s store layout.”

Dave applied the same leadership that helped strengthen Arby’s to Ohio Epsilon. He mentored undergraduate officers, invested in scholarships, attended chapter events, and remained a constant presence for generations of brothers.

Richard smiled when asked how long he had known Dave. “I’m not sure when I first met Dave. Like the Ohio Epsilon Chapter House, he was always there.” He continued, “When you met Dave, you suddenly had a new good friend. He was so personable that you felt like you had known him your whole life… He made you feel valued.”

Tom Walter (Cincinnati ’78) first met Dave while serving as Ohio Epsilon’s Eminent Archon in 1976. When Cincinnati hosted the 1989 SAE National Convention and Dave began his term as Eminent Supreme Archon, Tom remembers Dave encouraging him to join the House Corporation.

Tom shared, “I have a construction company and Dave encouraged me to join and help prepare the James Gamble Nippert Memorial Lodge for the big celebration. That was 38 years ago and I’m still keeping my promise to Dave, proudly serving on the DeVotie Hall House Corporation.”

Dave had a remarkable way of inspiring others to serve, not for a season, but for a lifetime. Tom continued, “One of my fondest memories was the decision by DeVotie Hall to name our historic Chapter Hall the ‘David M. Lance Chapter Hall.’ It was probably one of the biggest honors Dave ever received.”

Dave’s gift for bringing people together extended well beyond the chapter house.

Richard fondly reflected on the annual “Leisure Man” weekends at Dave’s river property. “The gathering featured recreational activities enjoyed by Ohio Epsilon undergraduates. The t-shirts are a prized memory of these Leisure Man events.”

One of Dave’s greatest joys was seeing his own family embrace the brotherhood that had shaped his life. Two of his sons, David Jr. (Cincinnati ’81) and Doug (Cincinnati ’89), followed in their father’s footsteps by becoming Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers themselves.

Dave and his son, Doug Lance (Cincinnati ’89)

The True Gentleman

Although they knew Dave in different decades and under entirely different circumstances, every brother interviewed described remarkably similar experiences.

For Jay, it began with an invitation to lunch. As Ohio Epsilon’s newly elected treasurer, he expected a congratulatory meal with a respected alumnus. Instead, it became the beginning of one of the most influential relationships of his life.

“We talked about the issues at Ohio Epsilon. It led to the restructuring of the chapter and I couldn’t be more proud that we did that and because of his leadership, amongst many others, the chapter won Chapter of the Year 3 years later.”

As Ohio Epsilon faced one of the most challenging periods in its history, Dave didn’t ask the undergraduates to rebuild the chapter alone. He showed up. Jay shared, “During the restructuring, he would show up at 6:30-7:00 a.m. at my door and knock on it. We referred to him, respectfully, as the ‘alarm clock’ because he just kept showing up to help us… All focused on winning and making the fraternity better.”

That example stayed with Jay for the rest of his life. “What he taught me is you always ‘show up.’ If you care about something you might not always get it right, but you always show up to help.”

Dr. Dean Kereiakes (Cincinnati ’74), whose friendship with Dave spanned more than sixty years, reached the same conclusion. “From the time I met David Lance, I have always thought that he epitomizes what I would call The True Gentleman… I’ve never heard him say an unkind word regarding anyone. He was always positive and uplifting everyone around him.”

That same character shaped Dave’s leadership across the Fraternity. As Eminent Supreme Archon, he led the creation of Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s first comprehensive strategic plan. Richard, who later served as Eminent Supreme Archon himself, reflected: “He charged them to create the very first SAE Strategic Plan. In the more than 35 years since then, SAE remains strategic in its planning, reviewing and updating Dave’s vision.”

Dave remained deeply invested in SAE and Ohio Epsilon, mentored generations of brothers, and was ultimately awarded Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Distinguished Service Award. Jay described, “There is nobody that I have ever met… that was the walking ‘True Gentleman.’ Every word in our creed Dave embodied.”

Portraits in the James Gamble Nippert Lounge at Ohio Epsilon. Judge Nippert (left), Dave Lance (middle), Lou Nippert (right)

Inspiring Others Until His Last Breath

Dave approached the final chapter of his life with the same faith, dignity, and courage that defined every chapter before it.

After years of health challenges, he made the courageous decision to discontinue treatment and enter hospice, surrounded by Judy and the family they had built together over seventy years.

Dr. Kereiakes reflected on his longtime friend’s final days. “In the end, he faced an unsolvable situation where I think, because of his faith, he was able to face the end of life with dignity, grace, and courage without fear… Until his last breath, he remained inspirational to all of us.”

Even then, Dave’s thoughts remained with SAE and Ohio Epsilon. Tom treasures their final conversation. “We had a brief, very special phone call and of course, he asked about the summer projects at the house. Dave concluded he was ready to go, he was very much at peace and went to hospice and passed away two days later. I treasure that call that ended in a simple Phi Alpha.”

Former Eminent Supreme Archon Ron Doleac (Southern Mississippi ’70), who served alongside Dave on the Supreme Council, summed up what so many brothers felt. “Dave Lance is the epitome of a True Gentleman and Brother Hero! His service, leadership, and generosity to Sigma Alpha Epsilon is remarkable. Judy was always there with Dave supporting him and all of us in all things SAE… Thank You, Brother Lance!”

Dave shaking hands with Bill Longstreet (Cincinnati ’55) and Don Parsons (Cincinnati ’59), two of his Ohio Epsilon contemporaries presenting him with the Dave Lance Chapter Hall dedication plaque in 2010.

The Legacy Lives On

Dave’s legacy isn’t measured by the offices he held or the awards he received. It’s measured by the lives he changed.

In a storage closet at a treasured river house sit the plaques, trophies, certificates, and awards Dave Lance accumulated over ninety-three remarkable years.

They tell the story of a successful businessman.

An Eminent Supreme Archon.

A Distinguished Service Award recipient.

A volunteer.

A visionary.

But they do not tell the whole story. The whole story lives on in the “people who mattered more than recognition.” Dave Lance will forever remain “the best friend Ohio Epsilon has ever had.”

Phi Alpha, Brother Lance.