Dave Turin is an American engineer and TV personality born on April 21, 1959 in Sandy, Oregon, USA. He is known for his appearances in various reality shows such as ‘Gold Rush’ and its spin-off ‘Dave Turin’s Lost Mine’.
Early life
Born into a middle-class family, David Turin’s childhood in Mt Hood was spent outdoors, with interests in activities such as fishing and hunting. There is no information about his early education, though it is known that he was a football player in high school.
In his teens, he and his three brothers Dan, Dennis and Douglas began paving their family land under the guidance of their father Jim.
Because their neighbors praised the exceptional work of the four young boys, the family began winning small paving contracts in Oregon. They gained a reputation for outstanding work and were officially formed Jim Turin and sonsInc. in 1973.
Dave left the family business to attend college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Portland State University.
Career
Family business
After graduating, Dave went back to work in his family’s paving business, as the economy was in crisis in the late 1980s and it was difficult for him to find other work in his field. However, his decision to continue his family business was good for his career as their business expanded to include a successful asphalt plant called Mt. Hood Asphalt.
Dave’s natural leadership was proven when he took charge of Mt. Hood Rock, a quarry also owned by his family after they acquired it in 1988, shortly after Dave’s graduation. Therefore, in his position as Quarry Manager, he gained mining experience and subsequently became an expert in occupational safety and equipment, working in the field for over 25 years.
“Gold Rush” – TV debut
He first appeared in “Gold Rush” in the first season of the series, when he was brought in by Todd Hoffman as a guest consultant to solve crew problems while working at Jim Nail Placer Mine, in Alaska. At the time, he only appeared briefly on the show, as his main job was still with the family business.
Convinced to pursue his dream of chasing gold and fulfilling a promise to his father, Dave Turin joined Hoffman’s crew at Quartz Creek Claim in the show’s second season. His equipment expertise was helpful to his team, making him one of the main stars and Hoffman’s right-hand man until 2017 when he retired from the show. His retirement was caused by problems after a fight with Trey Poulson in the final episode of the seventh season.
Turin made his departure from the show official in a post on his Facebook pageto which he thanked fans for their support and stated that it was time for him to ‘move on’.
In the comments section, fans were quick to ask about the reason for his retirement, to which Dave replied that “no amount of money or gold is worth working with a disrespectful crew member.”
Time for me to move on and put this behind me.’
Discovery Channel executive Scott Lewers praised Turin’s role in the show: “Dave Turin cemented himself as a fan favorite as viewers witnessed his successes, failures and perseverance”. Turin was also highly regarded by his fellow miners, as he often took a keen interest in their welfare: ‘We have boys with young children. We have boys with kids in college. That gold is enough gold to significantly affect their lives.”
“Gold Rush” ran its first season in 2011 and has been a reality TV success ever since. The show aired on the Discovery Channel and its affiliates around the world, and was filmed in various locations such as Canada, Guyana, Chile and Peru.
“Dave Turin’s Lost Mine” – 2019
In 2019, it was announced that a “Gold Rush” after-show titled “Dave Turin’s Lost Mine” would debut in April. The spin-off series revolves around Dave on his quest for gold in Lynx Creek, Arizona. The reality show was also the first Discovery series to air simultaneously on multiple platforms, such as the network’s Discovery GO app and official website. During the show, Dave formed his own mining crew, declare that despite the inexperience of its member, it is formed by people he respects.
At the beginning of the series, Dave was funded by outside sources, but as mining work progressed successfully, Dave financed mining explorations himself.
Centering on Turin’s search for gold in thousands of abandoned mines in Montana, a second season of the show aired in February 2020, running for eight episodes.
Private life
Wedding
Dave Turin is married to Shelly Turin, his high school sweetheart with whom he has three children. At the moment, Dave is a grandfather to four children and currently resides in Gresham, Oregon.
In 2016, Dave posted a photo commemorating his 35th birthdaye anniversary of marriage on his Facebook page: “My heart became yours the moment I met you in 11th grade. Thank you for being my sweet sunshine, my best friend and the most incredible wife, mother and grandmother. I’m so lucky, Shelly.’
Posted by Dave Turin – Gold Rush Dozer Dave on Sunday, June 28, 2020
Values
Dave Turin isn’t just a man with a strong work ethic; he also has a strong faith in God and loves his family deeply. His perseverance was a decisive factor in this his success as a miner: ‘I’ve always been the guy who always gets back up, goes back to the fight, puts on his boots and goes to work.’
Net value
Dave Turin has an estimated net worth of $2 millionthe result of his continued work at his family’s quarry, as part of a mining crew in “Gold Rush”, and leading his own mining explorations.
Appearance
Dave Turin is a man of white ethnicity, with green eyes and brown hair. His weight and stature are unknown, although he has a strong appearance and a tough physique.
Interesting facts
Because of his work ethic, expertise in mining and work equipment, he was nicknamed “Dozer Dave”.
Todd Hoffman and Dave were good friends, but after Dave’s retirement from “Gold Rush”, their friendship was strained – Turin stated that they still talk and text occasionally, but not as often as before. Turin is also known to often disagree with Hoffman’s decisions throughout the show: “What had started as a group that felt as close as family had changed,” stated Dave.
Dave says the hardest part of mining is being away from his family for long periods of time.
Dave’s wife Shelly manages the mining company’s finances in “Dave Turin’s Lost Mine”.
During Dave’s time working in Hoffman’s crew in “Gold Rush”, the team once explored gold mines in Guyana. However, this trip was considered a failure, as the crew apparently collected only two ounces of gold.
In 2016, Turin expressed his feelings about the problems Hoffman’s crew faced during the show’s seventh season to Channel Guide Mag: “We start high… and then in the middle of the season we have this valley.” I’ve been through it and I’m one of the leaders of the group, and it’s been one of the hardest months I’ve ever had because there’s a lot of bickering. These guys are family, and we’re bursting at the seams.” This interview was released shortly before he officially retired from the series.
