06/15/2026
Congratulations to Judge David Florence, a 2026 GCISD Walk of Honor inductee!
We are thrilled to announce one of our 2026 Walk of Honor Inductees:
🥁Drumroll please🥁
Congratulations to Judge David Florence!
Judge David Florence grew up in Grapevine and attended Grapevine schools, graduating from Grapevine High School in 1966. He was active in multiple sports, was captain of the basketball team, and held leadership positions in Student Council, National Honor Society, and the Latin and Science Clubs. It was also at Grapevine High School that Judge Florence met his wife of 58 years, Darlene Tillery Florence. Their children, Kathy Florence Spradley and Matt Florence, as well as their grandchildren, all graduated from GHS. Judge Florence was inducted into the GHS Hall of Fame in 2000.
Judge Florence earned a bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University, and in 1973 he graduated from SMU School of Law. He established a private law practice in Grapevine in 1976 and was a certified specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Judge Florence enjoyed serving his community on the Grapevine City Council from 1976 - 1980 and as Mayor Pro Tem from 1978 - 1980. He also served in the US Army Reserves as a Captain for 10 years. In addition, he helped establish a tax exempt corporation, Holton’s Drive for SIDS, to raise funds for research and prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which claimed the life of his grandson and his namesake, Holton David Spradley, in 2007.
The bulk of Judge Florence’s legacy was as a Municipal Court Judge in Grapevine. He served for 35 years in this position before retiring in 2015. During his tenure he helped establish the Teen Court, which allows teens charged with minor offenses to be judged by their peers, promoting accountability and community service rather than traditional punitive measures. He also was instrumental in collaborating with surrounding municipal judges to unite and create an alliance for “traveling judges” to perform weekend arraignments. Many who worked with Judge Florence through the years say that he treated everyone with fairness and respect throughout the judicial process.
Judge Florence is a life long member of the First Methodist Church in Grapevine, where he served in multiple positions including Trustee, Administrative Board, Council on Ministries, and the Pastor-Parish Relations Committee. Today, Judge Florence continues to serve at his church and enjoys attending his grandchildren’s events at Grapevine High School.