David Van Os (February 19, 1950 - January 3, 2023) was a Texas attorney, a member of the Democratic Party of Texas, and a frequent candidate for public office. A three-time Democratic nominee for statewide office, he was a self-styled "People's Democrat" and labor attorney. Early years David Van Os was born on February 19, 1950, in Kilgore, Texas, to Seymour and Francene Van Os. He was a National Honor Society and National Merit Finalist at Kilgore High School. Attended University of Texas at Austin on scholastic General Motors Scholarship, 1968–1972; Graduated UT With Honors, May 1972. Selected University of Texas Junior Fellow, 1970 and Entered University of Texas Law School with academic scholarship, 1973; Graduated from the University of Texas Law School with J.D. Degree, 1976. Van Os was honored with Human Rights Research Council Distinguished Research and Writing Award, UT Law School, 1974. Recipient of the 2005 Spine Award by the Backbone Campaign. He served on Board of Directors and as Assistant Treasurer, Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation, by appointment of the Texas Supreme Court, 1985–1995. In 1990 he was honored with President's Citation for Achievement in Civil Rights by the NAACP. The Texas Women's Political Caucus named him "GOOD GUY OF THE YEAR" in 2002. A political activist, Van Os attended his first Democratic State Convention in 1972 and attended every one through 2020. He served as president, Northeast Austin Democrats, 1978–1980, Democratic Precinct Chairman #132, Travis County, 1981–1988, County Democratic Chairman, Travis County, 1996–1998, chairman, North East Bexar County Democrats, 2000–2003, Life Member, NAACP Member and Legal Panelist, American Civil Liberties Union, and Member of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. Law career He was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and every United States District Court in Texas serving in federal appeals courts, state appeals courts, federal and state trial courts. His accomplishments as an attorney earned him recognition such as: Named one of Texas’ Super Lawyers by Texas Monthly in 2003, 2004, and 2005; http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/courts/entries/2008/07/16/david_lee_powell_cop_killer_lo.html?cxntfid=blogs_austin_legal Named in Best Lawyers in America since 1986, by survey of fellow attorneys; Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible evaluation in legal ability and professional ethics, by survey of fellow attorneys; Member, College of the State Bar of Texas Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation; Van Os served as general counsel for the Texas AFL-CIO