Editing David Van Os (section)

==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.