Citizen of the Year Award

2022 Honoree

David D. Duree

The Odessa Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor David Duree as the 2022 Citizen of the Year Honoree. With decades of service to the Odessa community through business and volunteerism, David was chosen by a panel of Odessa Chamber leaders to receive this distinguished award. David Duree was born in Crane in 1957. He graduated from Permian High School and attended Odessa College, where he received his Associates degree before continuing to the University of Texas Permian Basin to complete his Bachelor’s in accounting in 1981. Shortly before graduating from the University of Texas Permian Basin David started working for Midland Memorial Hospital as their Chief Accountant. David worked there for a little over a year before buying into Elms Faris in 1989. David continued to work for Elms Faris until the company merged with Weaver in 2010. David served as a partner at Weaver until retiring in 2022. Since retirement, David runs Duree, LP with his wife. David served as the Board President of the Odessa Country Club, Past President of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce Jaycees, Past President of the University of Texas Permian Basin Alumni Board, Past Executive Board and Campaign Chair of the Odessa United Way, Past President of the Ector County ISD Education Foundation and Past Treasurer of the Ector County ISD Bond Committee. He has also served on a variety of other committees, boards and councils. “David has been involved in our Chamber and community in many ways,” Odessa Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Renee Earls said. “Professionally, he has performed audits for many companies and organizations in Odessa. As a volunteer, he has lent his financial expertise to several nonprofit boards and committees throughout the four decades of his career. David has a long history of service to Odessa, and we are excited to honor him as our 2022 Citizen of the Year.” David currently serves as the Treasurer for Odessans For Education, Board Member of GROW Odessa, Committee Member of the Permian Basin Rehabilitation Center Advisory Board, Member of the University of Texas Permian Basin School of Business Advisory Committee, Member of the University of Texas Permian Basin President’s Advisory Council, Community Member for the Prosperity Bank Advisory Board and many more volunteer positions. David and his wife Donna will be celebrating their 35th anniversary on February 17th. Together, they have four children: Matt, Sam, Crystal and Pete. They also have seven grandchildren: Ryan, Aubree, Paton, Matthew, Noah, Chloe and Grover. In his downtime, David enjoys golf, working out, traveling and reading.