David (Dave) Gault: A Three‑Chapter Career of Service, Leadership, and Quiet Mastery
Celebrating the legacy of a professional whose five‑decade career shaped clients, colleagues, and communities across Oregon.
Early Years and the Path Toward Accounting
When Dave Gault graduated from Medford High School in 1956, he left with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a four‑year, full‑ride scholarship to the University of Oregon through the Evans Foundation of the Western Golf Association. Even with that strong academic foundation, he remained unsure of the career he would ultimately pursue. After exploring several scientific fields, he found himself drawn toward accounting—a decision that would shape the rest of his professional life.
Before entering public accounting, Dave spent three years as a commissioned officer in the United States Air Force, fulfilling the universal military service requirement of the time. When his service concluded, he returned to the Eugene/Springfield area in 1965 to begin his career in public accounting at a small Springfield firm.
Chapter One: The First Twenty Years
From 1965 to 1985, Dave built the first chapter of his professional life at the Springfield CPA firm that would eventually become Derickson & Gault. Under the mentorship of senior partner Donald Derickson, Dave helped develop a strong tax practice and a major municipal audit practice, serving clients such as the City of Springfield, Springfield Public Schools, the Springfield Utility Board, Willamalane Park & Recreation District, Lane Transit District, and numerous smaller municipalities and districts.
His commitment to community involvement ran parallel to his client work. Through the Jaycee movement — a national leadership and service organization — Dave honed his skills in civic engagement. In 1968, he won a spirited campaign for President of the Springfield Jaycees, later reflecting that the effort felt more demanding than running for the Oregon Legislature. Over the years, he also served as President of the Lane Memorial Blood Bank, the Korean Orphan Fund, the Springfield Education Foundation, and on the Board of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
Dave was also an early innovator. When a newly arrived IRS requirement for documentation of business mileage appeared, Dave designed a log book entitled SIMPLOG. In testimony to its effectiveness, thousands of copies were purchased by other CPA firms. This was a simple, effective way to support clients and other firms — a hallmark of his practical, forward‑thinking approach.
These years established the foundation of Dave’s professional reputation: thoughtful leadership, community involvement, technical skill, and a creative approach to solving problems.
Chapter Two: 1985–2003 — Shareholder, Jones & Roth
When Donald Derickson retired in 1984, Dave made what he came to view as one of the best decisions of his career. In 1985, he merged his practice into Jones & Roth, stepping into a larger firm environment that challenged and energized him. Even with two decades of experience, he often said he still had a great deal to learn. He credited colleagues such as Lanny Jones, Doug Griesel, Vaughn Roser, and Phil Stice for their support during that transition.
Dave thrived in the firm’s collaborative culture. He appreciated being surrounded by talented, knowledgeable professionals who made excellent client service not only achievable but deeply enjoyable. He frequently commented that the partner group of that era — nine partners during most of his shareholder years — was exceptionally supportive and a pleasure to work alongside.
This chapter of Dave’s career also included one of his favorite full‑circle stories. In 1987, he served as a chaperone on his son’s class middle‑school trip to Washington, D.C. Among the students was an energetic 12‑ or 13‑year‑old boy who needed occasional extra supervision. Nearly three decades later, that same boy — Jeremy Prickel — would become Co‑Managing Shareholder of Jones & Roth. Dave recounted the connection often, amused and proud that their paths crossed again in such a meaningful way.
Shortly after Jeremy joined the firm as a young intern, Dave provided a moment of mentorship that Jeremy never forgot. Seeing him struggling with a 10‑key machine, Dave placed a phone book next to him and said, “Practice with this.” It was a small gesture and remained one of Jeremy’s earliest memories of receiving genuine support in the profession.
Chapter Three: 2003–2017 — Part Time Retirement and a New Professional Calling
Jones & Roth’s policy of mandatory shareholder retirement is designed to create opportunities for rising staff. When Dave reached that milestone in 2003, he transitioned from shareholder to part time Senior Associate. Yet instead of winding down, he discovered what he considered his most meaningful professional calling.
Having earned accreditation as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst several years earlier, Dave initially assisted attorneys by helping craft property settlements in divorce cases. Over time, he narrowed his focus to a highly specialized area: drafting Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs), which govern the division of retirement plan assets in divorce proceedings. Few practitioners in Oregon specialized in this work, and Dave quickly became recognized statewide for his expertise.
His work earned him a membership in the Family Law Section of the Oregon State Bar — unusual for a non-attorney — and he authored numerous in‑depth articles for the Bar. One of his articles was cited by a Klamath County Circuit Court judge as part of a ruling, reflecting the influence of his scholarship. Dave also taught classes to attorneys and testified in court as an expert witness.
This part‑time role allowed him to balance meaningful professional work with personal pursuits, including competitive ballroom dancing, jazz cruises and festivals, and golf.
Across more than half a century, Dave’s career touched many lives. While he was proud of his tax and consulting work, he often said his greatest satisfaction came from crafting clear, persuasive written material — whether for clients, the courts, or the Bar. For Dave, excellence was always rooted in clarity, precision, and finding exactly the right words.
