David D. White

David D. White, L'31 Trail blazer, mentor and community leader

David D. White was Capital University Law School’s first African-American graduate and was an influential figure in the Central Ohio legal community his entire professional career.

Born in Winston-Salem, N.C., White came to Columbus at an early age and attended local schools where he was an outstanding athlete. He graduated from the Columbus School of Law (now Capital University Law School) in 1931 and became the first African-American attorney licensed to practice in Columbus. He practiced for more than 57 years as a partner in the firm of Bell, White and Ross.

White was a member of the Columbus Bar Association Board of Governors, the Ohio Public Defender Commission, the Ohio State Bar Association’s Council of Delegates and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.

The African American Law Alumni Association established the David D. White Scholarship Award in his honor. The award has been presented annually since 1989.

White passed away in 1992.