Doug was a true professional and encompassed all of the best characteristics that membership in the HBR means.  Although, I have heard it took some convincing to get Doug to join our Association, once he did he really “got it”.   He “got” that the organization is about working together for the greater good of the industry.  Doug would often say “how can someone in the residential construction industry NOT belong to the only organization that is working on our behalf on a local, state and national level?”   And true to who Doug was, his actions met his words.  When a potential new member applied to the HBR or if he met a quality contractor, he would take the time to visit their jobsite and allow them to showcase their work, then take them to lunch or for a cup of coffee and talk about the industry with them.

So many of us in the industry understood what a strong, smart, compassionate leader Doug was, and that is why he was able to get so much help from the residential construction industry when he built Casey’s Place, the caretakers home at Clear Path for Veteran’s and all of the other great community projects Doug lead and/or worked on.  He was a dedicated and ever-present member of our community in so many different ways, from coaching Special Olympics teams, actively participating in his parish, to serving on the board of directors at Advocates Inc. Doug was extremely generous and devoted to serving organizations that represented his values.

You could always count on a smile from Doug when you saw him enter an Association event, in his signature flip flops and mustache.  He never once said no when asked to use his big booming voice to quiet down the room.  He was always willing to help.

 > On a personal note, Doug was one of my greatest advisors.  His common-sense, no-nonsense advice and thoughtful questions always helped direct me.  And then there were the random pictures that Doug would text me on any given day, which always made me smile.  Although occasionally Doug would send a picture of his work, (more often he would invite me to tour one of the beautiful homes that he built) most of the pictures he sent were of his family – especially those beautiful grandchildren, that just kept coming!  Or of some fantastic scenery, from all over the world, of one of the bike trips that he, his beloved wife Mary and their friends were enjoying.  I love the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” and Doug Klepper truly lived a wonderful life, I know that he touched mine in a very positive way, and I will be forever grateful to have known him.  Mary