He received his private pilot's license in the late 1930's. By the time he was in high school, he had become a lover of track and field, and at one point, he accompanied his coach on a cross country drive to attend the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. While attending the University of Kentucky, as a star runner, he won the 1936 & 1937 Southeastern Conference Championship at both the 880 yard and one mile run. His SEC record time in the 1937 mile lasted 15 years. When World War II began in Europe, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in April 1941. In November 1941, he departed for England and flew for the RAF. With the United States in the war, Dave transferred to the U.S. 8th Air Force in missions against Germany. Completing 25 combat missions by August, 1943, he returned to the U.S. for training in the new B-29. In January 1945, Dave was deployed to Tinian as Squadron Commander for the 1st. Squadron, 9th. Bombardment Group. He flew 33 missions and was one of only a handful of pilots to fly in both the European and Pacific Theaters. Dave returned to United States in October 1945, and was assigned to Flight Test Division at Wright-Patterson Field. He was offered a position to train pilots, but dealing with his father's illness came first. He was discharged as a Major in December 1946. Dave joined the family mining supply business, Rogan and Rogan, where he worked until his retirement in 1986. Dave never lost his thirst for new challenges. He made films in Eastern Kentucky for the Walt Disney Company, built and enjoyed one of the first houseboats on Norris Lake, and became an avid scuba diver.