OKC services set to remember David Lee McLaughlin's accomplishments and service to others
Oklahomans will come together Aug. 3 to celebrate David Lee McLaughlin's life and the impacts he made on the state during a successful decades-long run where he helped establish and grow a profitable food business in Enid and supported communities, entrepreneurs and young people through various charitable activities.
McLaughlin, a Minnesota native who was 85 years old, died in Oklahoma City on July 24 after a brief illness.
McLaughlin began carving out a niche within Oklahoma's business scene in 1973 when he and partner Paul Allen co-founded Advance Food Co. in Enid. The business, which started out with five employees, produced hamburger patties and breaded beef products.
Over time, McLaughlin, Allen and eventually their children grew the business into an international operation offering 2,100 distinct products to grocery stores, restaurants and institutional food operations within broader categories of chicken-fried steaks, pre-cooked hamburger patties and Philly steaks. They also expanded the company's product line to include fully cooked chicken breasts, pork ribs, steak burgers and meatballs.
The company employed more than 2,400 workers before entering a 2010 merger to become AdvancePierre Foods.
Ultimately, the company employed more than 4,000 workers across multiple states when it was acquired by Tyson Foods in 2018. Tyson continues to operate Advance-created manufacturing facilities in Enid today.
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From business to mentoring, to philanthropy, a look at David Lee McLaughlin's life
As the company achieved its successes, McLaughlin remained modest.
"We don’t have the greatest growth in our sector, but it’s a stable industry,” McLaughlin told The Oklahoman in 2009. "It’s the kind of business that makes sense.”
Those who knew McLaughlin best say he took joy from successes achieved by entrepreneurs he mentored during Fortune Club breakfasts, especially those venturing into the food industry.
McLaughlin also regularly stopped into his family's Square Deal Capital office in Oklahoma City to share stories or contribute thoughts about real estate, investing or philanthropic ventures.
With his wife, Jean, and other members of his family, McLaughlin established a family foundation in 2004. Today, the foundation provides grants and other types of financial support to organizations helping children and families across the greater Oklahoma City area.
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McLaughlin also helped create the Made in Oklahoma program for state-grown or manufactured foods, served on the board of Saxon Publishing and enjoyed volunteering his time as a regent for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
McLaughlin is survived by his wife, Jean, their four children and their families, a sister, a brother and many extended family members.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 222 NW 15, in Oklahoma City. Smith & Kernke Funeral Homes & Crematory, which is handling the service's arrangements, will post a link on its website for those who wish to watch the service virtually.
The family asks mourners to make gifts to their favorite charities or schools instead of sending flowers.
"To honor Dave’s memory, please consider supporting a local entrepreneur, telling a joke, or eating a chicken fried steak," an obituary celebrating McLaughlin's life states.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma businessman David McLaughlin, co-founder of Advance Foods, dies
