2007 Printing Industry Hall of Fame — Master of the Deal - Chris Colville

“He’s of the highest integrity and never once mislead me in our dealings,” DeWese adds. “Chris is going to wind up as the CEO of some major corporation in Houston or on the Senior (PGA) Tour.”

Gone, But Not for Long

Colville left CGX for an 18-month span between September 2000 and March 2002, taking his M&A proficiency to Murphy Noell Capital. CGX had been dormant during the economic downturn of the period, and Colville wanted to try something different. But when Joe Davis called him in 2002, Colville pounced on the opportunity to return and get back into the M&A game.

“Joe challenges you to do your best, and he didn’t hold me back,” Colville says of the man he greatly admires. “He encouraged me to grow in the position, assume more responsibility and to take a leadership role in CGX. He taught me there’s no substitution for attention to detail and no substitution for managing a buck.”

Unlike what one would expect from a CPA, Colville was most enamored by the social interaction involved in his position. He remains in close contact with several former CGX presidents—he recently enjoyed a golf holiday in Scotland with one such friend.

But with his duties shifting to CFO and away from deal making, coupled with the desire to spend more time with his family, Colville opted to retire from CGX this past summer. He doesn’t rule out a return to the printing industry, but is more likely to hook on with a privately held, Houston-based company.

Colville credits his wife Nancy, whom he met at Arthur Ander-sen, with being very supportive of him and his career during their 22 years of marriage. They have two children, Tyler and Mackenzie, and recently returned from a vacation in Hawaii. He plans on spending more time with them doing outdoor activities such as hunting, golfing and fishing. PI