Ozarks Profile: David E. Termohlen

What is your job?

Owner and architect, Termohlen Corporation, 1837 E. Pacific.

Tell us about your organization.

Termohlen Corporation comprises several companies, including Park Lane Tower (in background at right), a $36 million high-rise condominium building that is set to break ground in February west of Fremont Avenue between Bradford Parkway and Independence Street. The building will comprise 126 units and will be Springfield's tallest at 336 feet. It will offer condo units in the six- and seven-figure price range. Termohlen also owns Imperial Sales, which imports, exports and sells building materials, and World Building Corporation, a company that builds affordable housing in countries around the world. "My real love is affordable housing," Termohlen said.

What is your educational background?

Termohlen, whose family was left penniless by the stock market crash of 1929, left school at age 14. He entered the U.S. Air Force at 18 and passed high school and college equivalency exams, as well as various military cadet, officer and inspector general programs. He is self-taught in the fields of business, architecture, business law, structural engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, human resources research and computers. Termohlen also completed graduate courses in solar energy and management sensitivities at New York University and the University of Southern California and was awarded an honorary master's degree from the University of New York. He became a licensed architect in 1963.

What jobs led you to your current one?

Termohlen began his work in architectural research and building development in 1950, after having served in the Research and Development Command of the Air Force. From 1950 to 1960, Termohlen designed and/or built 65 percent of all residential buildings in Dayton, Ohio, as well as shopping centers, hotels, motels, apartment buildings and fine homes. In 1961, Termohlen relocated to southern California, where he began specializing in the research, design and development of high-rise buildings, especially earthquake-resistant buildings. For the next 25 years, Termohlen continued to design hotels, office buildings and high-rise condominium and apartment buildings in California, New York, Tulsa, Okla., Dallas, Israel, the former Soviet Union, Iran, several African countries and China. He came to the Ozarks in 1993, first living in Branson, then moving to Springfield three years later.

Give us some personal information.

Termohlen was born in New York City in 1925. His father, an artist and former opera singer, was 72 when Termohlen was born, "making him 14 when Lincoln was shot," Termohlen said. Termohlen has seven grown children and is married to Myrel. Termohlen said he likes to work in his spare time. "I'm a workaholic. I'm not into sports. I've never seen a football, basketball, baseball or hockey game in my life. I like to fly airplanes and ski." He is a member of the American Institute of Architects.

What is your favorite business lunch spot?

"If I don't eat at a hamburger joint, I usually go up to the Tower (Club)," Termohlen said.

by Melissa Wilson