17 Facts About David Karnes

David Kemp Karnes was an American politician, businessman, and attorney.

David Karnes was involved in numerous civic, educational, and charitable organizations both in Nebraska and nationally.

David Karnes attended Benson High School and the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, where he was a member of the swimming team and graduated in 1971.

In 1981, David Karnes was selected and served as a White House Fellow, only the second Nebraskan to achieve that honor.

The appointment shocked many observers as the 38-year old David Karnes was virtually unknown in Nebraska political circles.

David Karnes became known to Orr by working on her campaign for governor the previous year.

David Karnes was one of the principals of the firm's technology, venture capital, and emerging companies national practice group.

David Karnes served in senior executive positions in federal executive, regulatory, and legislative bodies and had broad expertise and familiarity with state and federal agency operations, including the White House, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Home Loan Bank Board.

At the state level, David Karnes served as the attorney in charge of the firm's engagement as special tax counsel to the Nebraska Legislature as it revised the state's personal property tax system and, more recently, served as counsel to the State in the development and implementation of Nebraska's Section 529 College Savings Plan.

David Karnes was a member of the board of directors of the $35 billion Federal Home Loan Bank of Topeka, a principal secured credit source for saving and loans, savings banks, commercial banks, credit unions, and insurance companies in Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

David Karnes served on the boards of, or acted as an advisor to, publicly traded US companies, including Fannie Mae, Data Transmission Network Corporation, and RJT Securities, Inc.

David Karnes served as a member of the United States Advisory Committee on Trade Policy and Negotiations.

In January 2016, David Karnes endorsed New Jersey governor Chris Christie for president in that year's election.

David Karnes was married to Elizabeth Karnes from 1971 to her death in 2003; they had four daughters.

On June 14,2008, David Karnes married Kristine Dorn, a partner at Kutak Rock and 1998 Graduate of Creighton University School of Law.

In 2019, David Karnes was diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell skin cancer.

David Karnes was part of a clinical trial in Boston, Massachusetts, but treatment was unsuccessful, and he died there on October 25,2020, at age 71.