David H. "Dave" Longaberger (1934 – 1999) was an American businessman who founded the Longaberger Company, makers of handcrafted maple wood baskets and accessories. Dave has two daughters, Tami Longaberger, who is CEO of the Longaberger Company, and Rachel Longaberger Stukey, President of the Longaberger Foundation.
Longaberger grew up in a poor family of 14. He suffered from a stuttering problem and epilepsy, both of which he overcame.
As well as being a successful businessman, Dave Longaberger was also a great philanthropist. His concern for his community was evident in the money, effort and time he donated in and around Dresden, Ohio. Dave gave millions of dollars to the local community and schools, and provided much needed services to the community.
Dave was always interested in history; when he first started selling baskets he made a deal with historic Roscoe Village, Coshocton, Ohio, to sell them there. As hand crafted baskets fit nicely into the historic nature of the non-profit organization that maintained and operated Roscoe Village, it was a perfect fit. Later, after he became prosperous, Dave's love of history came to the surface as he undertook the restoration of many local historic buildings in the Dresden, Ohio, area. Some of the buildings he saved were:
Dave also purchased and refurbished many other historic buildings on Main Street in Dresden, Ohio. This spurred a restoration boom as private owners then began themselves to look at their old homes and started restoring them as well.
Dave grew up in a poor family with 14 brothers and sisters.