Dave was raised on a farm and wrestled for Solanco High School.

He graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1968, where he wrestled for four years, obtaining a degree in geology.

Dave served in the United States Army in 1969 and 1970 as a non-commissioned officer for the First Field Force Artillery, in Vietnam.

After his military service, Dave earned a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Texas at Austin.

He went on to work as a geologist for ExxonMobil for 28 years.

After that, he ultimately founded several companies focused on oil and gas exploration and development.

In 2002, Dave co-founded the Geosciences Founders Society to build partnerships with alumni and friends in the geosciences field to support student field study and faculty research in the Department of Earth and Environment at F&M. Leadership at F&M has described Dave Lehman's long-term dedication to the academic mission of the College as "transformative."

David received F&M's Alumni Medal in 2007, presented by its Board of Distinguished Alumni. It is F&M's oldest & most distinguished award, given in recognition of sustained, distinguished & outstanding service to the college.

Dave is currently the president and CEO of Denver-based DJ Resources, which primarily operates in the oil and gas exploration and extraction services industry.

In 2014, Dave made a $5 million gift to F&M to endow Franklin & Marshall College's wrestling program for generations of student-athletes to come. The gift fully endows all wrestling operations.

Dave has truly devoted his life to F&M. He was a four-year wrestler, a Trustee of the college, and a long-term supporter of F&M academics. Dave's ongoing contributions touch-motivate-inspire pride in the legacy of the student-athlete experience at F&M.

And recently, the F&M Open wrestling tournament has been renamed the David H. Lehman F&M Open.

David is in a class of few people, who have taken a stand for the sport of wrestling with a commitment/endowment and a declaration to preserve wrestling at a collegiate program.

Dave is rightfully described as a devoted family person, a community and business leader with a passionate heart for the sport of wrestling.

Dave splits his time in Colorado, Texas and Pennsylvania.

His wife of 38 years, Patsy, passed in November of 2016. They had one daughter, Lisa, who graduated from "guess where" Franklin & Marshall in 2001.