Uncrowned Community Builders

David Lorimer Echols was the second child of Elijah and Kenvel Jones Echols. He was born on October 30, 1937 in Buffalo, New York. He attended the Buffalo Public Schools. He was a graduate of the University of Buffalo, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He also studied management productivity at the Gibraltar Institute. Echols served as a United States Air Force National Guardsman where he achieved the rank of Sergeant and received an honorable discharge.
He taught at the Community Education Center and at UB's Urban Center before joining the Model Cities Office for the city of Buffalo. He was also the Coordinator for the Office of Federal and State Aid, Commissioner of Human Resources for the city of Buffalo, Assistant Commissioner for Employment for the Department of Social Services, State of New York, and Executive Director for the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority. He also served as the Executive Director for the Housing Authority for the city of New Haven, Connecticut.
Echols was committed to his community and served on numerous boards. While in Buffalo, he served as a member of the advisory committee of the United Way and the boards of directors of Blue Shield of Western New York, Childrenââ?¬â?¢s Hospital, Medaille College and the Buffalo State College Foundation. His community involvement continued in New Haven and included the American Red Cross, YMCA of Greater New Haven, Black Family Roundtable, Shirley Frank Foundation, the Mayor's Task Force on Hunger, State Housing Commissioners' Task Group, Secretary of the United Way of Greater New Haven and the Modernization Committee of Public Housing Authorities. He was also the past president of the Eta Alpha Lambda Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and an active member of Widow's Son Lodge #1, the East Rock Lodge #141 and the Ashanti Club. He also was a committee chairman for the annual United Negro College Fund Telethon.
In 1983 Echols received the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews. He was also one of the honorees at the 20th annual Black Achievers in Industry Award in 1992.
David Echols married Eleanor Neal Poole on August 17, 1973. They had three sons, Byron, Brent, Robert and a daughter Tanya.
While in Buffalo, Echols was a lifelong member of First Shiloh Baptist Church, which was founded by his grandfather, Rev. Elijah J. Echols, Sr., in 1918 and subsequently also pastored by his father. He was treasurer of the church. After his move to New Haven, CT he attended Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Echols died on August 16, 1993. He was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo, New York.