RICHARD R. OLIPHANT BIOGRAPHY

Richard R. Oliphant has been a leader in the construction and development business since attending the University of Iowa, majoring in Mathematics. He started his career as General Manager of his family’s general construction business based in Iowa City, Iowa. In 1957, he began his own corporation the MID AMERICA CORPORATION providing drafting design services, commercial and agricultural real estate sales and OLIPHANT STEEL PRODUCTS selling and erecting steel buildings as an Inland Steel Co. franchise dealer.

In 1960, Dick moved to Tucson, Arizona to become the General Manager of the BUSBY-CARROLL COMPANIES. Busby-Carroll was a large residential builder completing approximately 2,500 living units annually. Dick was in full charge of all the business activities including all office and field operations.

Dick was responsible for bringing the BUSBY-CARROLL COMPANY together with PALOMAR MORTGAGE COMPANY to create a joint venture named SUNGOLD DEVELOPERS whose job would be to design and construct the first golf course community in Pima County. This project was named ROLLING HILLS COUNTRY CLUB. Dick was named President of Sungold and was in charge of all facets of design, entitlement, development and construction. The golf course was designed by Billy Bell, Jr. and construction was completed in record time. The job was such a success; Palomar Mortgage hired Dick away from Busby-Carroll and moved him to Palm Desert, California in 1962. Palomar named Dick a Vice President in charge of development and construction. In this position, Dick built PALM CITY, Califomia’s first retirement community. Palm City was the winner of 21 National Awards. This community included: 27-hole championship Billy Bell, Jr. golf course, shopping center, over 2,000 dwelling units, sewer and water companies, hotel with restaurant and a major homeowner recreational complex.

Palomar broadened Dick’s responsibility to include a golf course retirement community in Livermore, California called SPRING TOWN. Dick entitled, developed and constructed this project while maintaining his responsibilities at Palm City. Spring Town had the same amenity package as Palm City and they were constructed as Sister Cities. Dick was also given the responsibility of designing and entitling the WHISPERING PALMS golf club in Rancho Santa Fe, California.

In 1964, Dick formed a partnership with another Palomar Vice President, Frank R. Goodman, to purchase Palm City and complete the development. The project’s name was changed to PALM DESERT COUNTRY CLUB. The development was constructed out under the Corporation banner AFFILIATED CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.

Between 1964 and 1985, the Oliphant-Goodman partnership built nearly 1,200 apartments from El Centro, California to Napa and from Palm Desert to Yuma, Arizona. Projects financed by Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) Affiliated constructed several hundred single-family homes and apartments in the Coachella Valley. Additionally, in Palm Desert, California, they constructed the 160-condominium community of CORSICAN VILLAS, 64 condominium units at LA ROCCA, 172 single-family homes at PARKVIEW, 30 apartments known as CANDLEWOOD (Section 8, FHA), 72 WASHINGTON STREET APARTMENTS (FmHA), 30 luxury YUM YUM TREE apartments, over 100,000 square feet of commercial retail buildings, offices, mini-warehouses and professional buildings.

Also in 1964, Oliphant-Goodman formed a real estate company, PALM DESERT REALTY, INC. Palm Desert Realty has been active in the resale market, projects for sale, commercial sales and property management.

A culmination of the AFFILIATED CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. vision was the conception, design, processing, development, construction and marketing of the PALM DESERT RESORT COUNTRY CLUB. This Country Club had a 40,000-square foot clubhouse with meeting rooms, high-tech post-production television studio, banquet facilities, retail, locker rooms and lounge. The center of attraction was an 18-hole championship golf course around which 960 condominium units were constructed. 15 night-lighted tennis courts, a 1,000-seat tennis stadium, 2,500 square foot tennis clubhouse, guardhouse and all the necessary infrastructure.

When Frank Goodman retired at the end of 1985, Dick purchased his partner’s interest and has gone on to maintain a full spectrum of involvement in development, construction and real estate sales. In 1986, WESLEY D. OLIPHANT, a graduate accountant from San Diego State University, joined his Dad in Affiliated Construction Co., Inc. Dick and Wes have continued their broad scope of development and construction building the PALM DESERT BUSINESS PARK, BERKELEY BUSINESS PARK, CATHEDRAL CITY BUSINESS PARK, two banks for FIRST BANK, A NATIONAL BANK. a bank for 1ST INTERSTATE BANK, STATE FARM CLAIM ADJUSTORS, DIXIE ESCROW, SEVERAL LAW BUILDINGS, EXECUTIVE SUITES, CALHOUN INSURANCE CO., the entry treatments including fountains, landscaping, paving, gate structures, guardhouse for the MIRADA next to the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Rancho Mirage.

Other projects include: the ARBOLEDA PROFESSIONAL CENTER, ST. CHARLES OFFICE AND WHOLESALE CENTER, PORTOLA SUPER BLOCK, JONATHON PROFESSIONAL OFFICE BUILDINGS, SOUTHWEST CENTER FOR PAIN CONTROL, QUADRILLE ACADEMY, SIERRANOVA TRACT HOMES, MIRAGE MEDICAL CENTER, SEVERAL MAJOR REMODEL JOBS FOR EISENHOWER HOSPITAL, A NUMBER OF MAJOR COMMERCIAL TENANT IMPROVEMENTS, WALL STREET WEST, THE PLANTATION COUNTRY CLUB HOUSE and the CLUB HOUSE, LOTS AND MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AT THE PALM COUNTRY CLUB in La Quinta, California.

Mr. Oliphant was a winner in a competition of 10 International consulting firms to design and entitle for construction a major golf community in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Over an 18-month period, working with Golf Architect Ted Robinson and master planner designers, Wimberley, Allison, Tong and Goo, Mr. Oliphant presented H. H. Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, The Ruler’s representative of the Eastern Region of Abu Dhabi with a buildable project. Several presentations were made to the Royal Family in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Richard R. Oliphant currently serves as the President of Palm Desert Realty, Inc., President of Oliphant Enterprises, LLC. (consulting company), Richard R. Oliphant and Associates (owners of several retail buildings and apartments) and Blackhawk Funding, Inc. Dick formerly served on the Board of Directors of Mine Reclamation Corporation, developers of Eagle Mountain Mine. He was the Founding Board Chairman of the 1st Bank of Palm Desert.

Dick has been recognized for his leadership in the construction industry, and has been awarded a “Lifetime Membership” in the Desert Contractors’ Association, it’s highest award. The Building Institute of America has also recognized him for leadership in his profession with their annual “Bill Bone Leadership” award. In September 1999, ARCHITECT - BUILDER Magazine named Dick “Builder of the Month”.

In 1962 Dick formed the Bermuda Dunes Volunteer Fire Department and served for 8 years as a fireman and paramedic. He was the first Fire Chief of the City of Indian Wells and was the Founding Chair of the Cove Community Fire Commission. Dick retired with honors from the fire service after 30 years in 1992.

In 1988, Dick joined a long-time friend, Anthony Lizza, and formed a partnership, OLIPHANT, LIZZA and ASSOCIATES, to develop, own and manage commercial buildings. This Partnership has developed and constructed two custom homes in Marina del Rey and approximately 82,000 square feet of commercial buildings. Additionally, the Partnership owned and managed a yacht club (Pacific Sailing) in Marina del Rey for several years. Tony Lizza passed away in 2003 and the Partnership retired.

In 1996, Dick formed a new corporation with a well-known desert builder, Betty Williams. This company is known as OLIPHANT and WILLIAMS ASSOCIATES, INC. The company is concentrating on the development, construction and sales of housing. The company developed and constructed 80 low income homes in Mecca, Ca., 70 tract homes in Indio, 132 tract homes in La Quinta and a 78 lot “upper-end” subdivision in La Quinta. Additionally, they have completed the reconstruction of 282 apartments in Cathedral City and constructed and owned a 10-screen movie theater in Calexico, Ca. In 1999, the Corporation purchased Betty Williams stock and Wes and Dick Oliphant are the sole stockholders. The Company, now owned by Wes Oliphant, continues to construct high end housing in Southern California.

In 1994, Dick became associated with Charles Pasarell, Jr., a world-renowned tennis player and tournament manager, from Puerto Rico. Charlie’s charge to Dick was to entitle, finance and develop a 2,200-acre parcel of land in Isabela, Puerto Rico (known as ROYAL ISABELA). The land has 2.5 miles of ocean frontage and the only clear water river in Puerto Rico. The project was designed for a major movie production area, commercial development, 4 major hotels, a major casino, 3 championship golf courses, 15,000 seat sports arena, theme park, championship tennis facilities, condominiums, single family homes, villas and timeshare. The project was approved and entitled by all government agencies and the basic development plan completed. In processing, the Governor had Mr. Oliphant assist in reforming the entitlement process for Puerto Rico. The entitlement process was reduced from nearly 7 years to 2 years. The project is currently being developed.

Charlie was the co-owner, and general manager of the MASTER SERIES INDIAN WELLS. This tournament was the 5th largest and important in the world. It had outgrown its former physical facilities at the Indian Wells Hyatt Grand Champions. Dick planned, developed and construction managed, for Charlie, an entirely new, state-of-the-art stadium and surrounding improvements. The INDIAN WELLS TENNIS GARDEN is located in Indian Wells, California and covers 189 acres. It has a 16,100-seat stadium, 5,000-seat stadium, 3,500 seat stadium, 20 tennis courts, hospitality area and parking for over 5,000 autos. The value of the completed project was approximately $80,000,000.

In 2013, Dick was hired by the Indian Wells Tennis Garden to be the Owner’s Representative (for Larry Ellison) to manage and oversee the remodeling of all site work and construct a new $95 Million stadium, including 8000 seats and 3 full service sit-down restaurants. This project was completed on time for the 2014 tournament. In 2014, Mr Ellison hired Dick to oversee the design and construction of an underground lounge and add 3 rows of box seats on either end of the stadium. The lounge was 6,000 square feet nearly 40 feet underground and housed a full service NOBU Restaurant. In 2016/2017, Mr Ellison decided to rebuild Stadium 1. Dick again was the Owner’s Representative and demolished over 200,000 square feet of building. It was replaced with 330,000 square feet of building adding a 3rd floor, 21 full restaurants and a Spago sit-down restaurant. This project was completed from design to completion in 11 months.

In 2001, Dick joined forces with Dennis French, a prominent developer in Orange County and the Coachella Valley. Together, they developed a 48 acre mixed use project, known as Centre Pointe in La Quinta, that includes 129 key Homewood Suite Hotel by Hilton, 160 Casita condominiums, Independent and assisted living residences, and a 195,000 square foot Medical/Surgical facility. Additionally, they have developed and constructed the improvements for a 133 lot single family subdivision, known as Desert River in Indio, and sold the finished lots. They acquired the land and entitled a 420 unit condominium project in Indio known as Victoria Palms. Dick, in conjunction with the Berger Foundation, has developed a 420-acre golf course community, known as the Classic Club project. Dick was the Owner’s Representative and master developer responsible for the design, entitlement and construction of this development. The project consists of an 18 hole Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, that was licensed as the home of the Bob Hope Classic Golf Tournament. The first tournament was held in January 2006. Other entitlements include a 500,000 square foot High Tech Industrial Park, 425 room 5-star Fairmont Hotel, 35,000 square feet of meeting, exhibition and conferencing facilities, 1,000,000 square foot shopping center including 800 condo/apartments in upper levels, 216 units of Fairmont Residences, 740 luxury condominiums, 240,000 square feet of Class A Office/Professional, 100 Villas and a 66,000 square foot golf Clubhouse.

In 2010, Dick joined two Bridge Loan specialists to form investment funds to be used for bridge loans to borrowers in need. In the seven years of operation, the investors have averaged over 9% per year with little risk. The business, Blackhawk Funding is growing at a very rapid rate. Dick is one of the three managing partners. In 2017, Blackhawk Funding acquired land and started construction on 16 14,000 SF building for growers of marijuana. The project has expanded to have a potential of 1,000,000 SF of buildings for the growers. Dick is responsible for delivery of the buildings.

While an acknowledged leader in the building industry. Dick is a firm believer in returning to the community what one has received from it. His lifelong motto is “Community Service is the Price you Pay for the Space you Occupy”. He has served 2 years as an Indian Wells PLANNING COMMISSIONER, 6 years as a COUNCILMAN, 2 years as the VICE MAYOR and 8 years as MAYOR.

In addition, he has served as the Founding Chairman of the Coachella Valley Economic Development Conference and State of the Valley, a Founder and former Chairman of the COACHELLA VALLEY ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP, a Founder and former Chairman of the GREATER PALM SPRINGS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU, President of the DESERT SANDS SCHOOL BUILDING CORPORATION, a lifetime member of the CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO BOARD OF GOVERNORS, a founding member of the Board of Directors for the CHILDREN’S DISCOVERY MUSEUM, Past President of the INDIAN WELLS ROTARY CLUB, a former Vice Chair of the SUNLINE TRANSIT AUTHORITY, and a former board member of LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB. Dick is the Founding Chairman and President Gerald Ford was the Honorary Chairman of the LINCOLN CLUB OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY. The Lincoln Club has become a prestigious Republican organization recognized by political leaders statewide. The A. Gary Anderson School of Business at the University of California, Riverside has named Dick a “FELLOW”, and he spent a year lecturing and counseling graduate students on campus. He continues to mentor graduate students. Nearly every city in the Coachella Valley has designated a “Richard R. Oliphant Day”, recognizing his contributions to the valley. In 1996, the Boy Scouts of America named Dick and his wife Jan “DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS OF THE YEAR”. Dick was awarded the “ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR” award by the Public Record and Palm Springs Life Magazine for the year 1999. Dick is co-chair, fundraising for a public/private partnership with the CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus. He and co chair, Betty Barker, have raised $35 Million plus the donation of 200 prime acres by the City of Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency toward the development and construction of a 4 year campus.

The University, as a result of his efforts, has named the University’s primary lecture hall the RICHARD AND JANICE OLIPHANT AUDITORIUM.

The City of Indian Wells named the month of May, 2002 the RICHARD R. OLIPHANT MONTH for his work on valley-wide issues. Additionally, the City of Indian Wells has named a street “DICK OLIPHANT WAY”. Dick was a National winner of the JEFFERSON AWARD with his award being presented to him in Washington D.C. While in Washington D.C., Dick was given a SENATORIAL RECOGNITION AWARD by California Senator Diane Feinstein.

The Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce named Dick “CITIZEN OF THE YEAR” for 2005-2006.

In May 2006, the Indian Wells Rotary Club honored Dick and Jan by holding two special events to fund their RICHARD R. OLIPHANT SCHOLARSHIP FUND. This fund is managed by the DESERT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, of which Dick is the Chairman of the Board.

Dick is a member of the PALM SPRING AIR MUSEUM Board of Directors and has served on its Executive Committee.

At the 2006 graduation exercise at California State University, Palm Desert Campus, the California State University Board of Trustees conferred an HONORARY DOCTORATE OF HUMANE LETTERS on Dick. He then delivered the commencement address to the graduates. He is now referred to as Dr. Oliphant on campus.

A special ceremony in 2000 was held to honor Dick at his alma mater IOWA CITY HIGH SCHOOL by inducting him into the school’s HALL OF FAME.

In May 2007, Dick was named as the first recipient of the HALL OF FAME, DESERT SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT for his 34 years of leadership and management of the Desert Sands Unified School District Building Corporation. The Board has financed and constructed most of the school buildings constructed over this 34 year period, including the Desert Sands Administration Building.

The California Building Industry Association Foundation inducted Dick into their HALL OF FAME for his outstanding contributions to the development and construction industry. Dick was the 70th inductee in 25 years.

Dick and Jan were honored with a NATIONAL HISPANIC AWARD as “Visionaries” by the Coachella Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Dick and Jan were both awarded the Children’s Discovery Museum CHILDREN’S CHAMPION Award for 2009.

In 2010, Dick was recognized by the Claremont McKenna College’s with the INSTITUTE AWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE. This is only the 2nd time it was awarded in the State of California.

In 2011, Dick was awarded the “RED FEATHER” by the Indian Wells Country Club. In the Club’s history, there have only been 4 Red Feather awards including Arnold Palmer.

The Indian Wells Rotary, in May 2014, awarded Dick and Jan the OUTSTANDING ROTARIANS of the year.

In 2016, SCORE, an organization of retired professionals, awarded Dick the first ever ENTREPRENEUR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.

Dick and Jan were awarded the California State University LEGACY AWARD as Founders of the Palm Desert Campus.

Dick and Jan have been honored with a STAR on the Palm Springs WALK OF STARS.

In 2017, Dick and Jan were awarded the prestigious RECOGNITION OF SERVICE by the Virginia Waring Piano Contest.

In 2018, Jan and Dick were awarded the Merritt and Penny Joslyn Award for their role in the founding and support of the JOSLYN SENIOR CENTER.

Dick is a California B1 licensed general contractor, Number 261418. Additionally, he was a 50 year member of the Coachella Valley Board of Realtors and is currently a California licensed Real Estate Broker.

Dick and his wife Jan, married in 1953, are the parents of 5 grown children, 8 grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren. The Oliphant family, in leisure hours enjoys travel, sailing, golf, tennis and flying with Dick in the pilot’s seat where he has logged approximately 3,000 hours.