Services Held for Past President Joe Chamberlain
Services were held last month at Restland Funeral Home in Dallas for Joe Chamberlain of Caprock Custom Construction, who passed away on May 7.
Chamberlain served as the Dallas BA’s 70th president in 2013, in the midst of some challenging transitions for the Association as it was working to push through the impacts of the Great Recession and get back on to a firm financial footing. “He approached his role at the Dallas BA with the same dogged determination that saw him through some of the Vietnam War’s most intense combat and that led to several successful business ventures in the decades that followed,” said Association Executive Officer Phil Crone. “Joe always had his loving wife Kay at his side for encouragement and, when needed, a swift kick in the pants as he put it.”
Joe served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1968 to 1971, coming back from Vietnam with a newfound understanding of the importance of service in life, as well as an overall sense of purpose and a strong drive to succeed.
After his honorable discharge, Chamberlain got his real estate license and began building HUD Homes in Gilmer, TX, while he attended college. He had gotten his start in construction when he was still at Bryan Adams High School, working with multifamily builder K.K. Stanfield near Fair Park.
1976 was a busy year for Joe; he married high school sweetheart Kay, studied electrical engineering at Texas Tech and started a company that would become a Top 20 Five Star Distributor of GE Mobile Communications operating in 52 counties.
After 15 years he sold the company and retired and did what most people only dream of doing — he and Kay bought a 60-foot yacht and for the next three years sailed along the Atlantic Coast and in the Caribbean, winning the Caribbean 1500 twice. During that time, they spent only one night off the boat, even weathering Hurricane Gordon.
In 1998, Joe hung up his captain’s cap and moved back to Texas, where he taught electrical engineering for both Rockwall High School and Collin County Community College for the next four years.
Caprock Custom Construction was formed in 2001, designing and building custom homes in the Rockwall/Heath area. The company has been a member of the Dallas BA since 2002, and Joe was a strong believer in the importance of maintaining the venerable heritage of the Association while securing a vibrant future.
He served as president of the Metro East Division, where he was actively involved in the group’s Cars for CASA project, which raises funds for Lone Star CASA. Chamberlain was a member of the Dallas BA’s Government Relations Committee since 2009 and became chairman in 2012. He also chaired the Membership Committee and the Association’s Benefits Health Trust. A prolific membership recruiter, Joe attained the Red Spike level with 122 credits.
Caprock was named the ARC Awards Custom Builder of the Year in 2017 and was selected a D Home Magazine Best Builder annually for over a decade.
At the state level, Joe served as Area I Vice President from 2014 to 2016. He was a trustee of the TAB political action committee and served on its Government Relations Committee for three years. Nationally, he was an NAHB director and a Gold Key Member of its political action committee, BUILDPAC.
Chamberlain was also very civically involved. He served two terms as a City of Heath councilman, was a Planning and Zoning Commissioner and served on the Lake Ray Hubbard Takeline Committee. His family donated the land for Heath’s Amy Parks – Heath Elementary School; Heath’s Public Works facility is situated on his family homestead.
Other civic involvement included the Rockwall Men’s Republican Club and the Rockwall Chamber of Commerce. He volunteered as a youth coach for many years.
Survivors include his business partner and wife of 48 years, Kay Chamberlain; and sons Chad Walker and Chip Chamberlain, who is also with Caprock Custom Construction.
