The late L. Clifford Davis was an attorney for the Fort Worth chapter of the NAACP. A South Fort Worth elementary school now bears his name. | Photo courtesy of UTA Libraries
A pillar of Fort Worth’s Black community, legal scene, and civil rights laid down his gavel after a lifetime of advocacy. Retired Judge L. Clifford Davis died last week at 100 years old.
Tarrant County’s first Black elected judge has been called a legend, pioneer, and treasure for his work in ending segregation in North Texas. Keep reading to see all he did for Fort Worth and its residents.
Born in Wilton, Arkansas on October 12, 1924, Davis was denied admission to the University of Arkansas School of Law based on race. Instead, he earned a law degree from Howard University before going on to assist Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP in the 1954 landmark case Brown vs. Board of Education Topeka, Kansas.
In 1956, Davis represented five Black students who wanted to attend Mansfield High School in Jackson vs. Rawdon, prompting the desegregation of Mansfield ISD. Three years later, he won the Flax vs. Potts case, desegregating Fort Worth ISD.
In 1977, Davis and 13 other local attorneys formed the Fort Worth Black Bar Association, which later became the Tarrant County Black Bar Association and then the L. Clifford Davis Legal Association.
In 1983, Davis became the first appointed Black judge to preside over a district court in Tarrant County, where he served until 1988. At age 92, the University of Arkansas School of Law granted him an honorary doctorate in place of the one he was denied in 1949. Read more on Davis’ life in his obituary.
The public is invited to honor Davis at his funeral service this morning at St. Andrew United Methodist Church. The service begins at 11 a.m.
Events
Events
Tuesday, Feb. 25 “Soldaderas to Amazonas: Escaramuzas Charras” | Tuesday, Feb. 25-Tuesday, April 15 | Times vary | National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame | $6+ | Explore the relationship between Mexican Revolution soldaderas and the eight-equestrian team in this exhibition.
Wednesday, Feb. 26 Movie Nights: “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" | 5 p.m. | Burleson Public Library | Free | Settle in for a viewing of the third movie in the iconic series in honor of Suzanne Collins’ new release — popcorn and drinks provided.
Thursday, Feb. 27 America’s Pub Quiz | 7 p.m. | Cowtown Brewing | Free | Grab your smartest friends and test your trivia knowledge while you sip a local brew.
Friday, Feb. 28 Garden Bros Nuclear Circus | Friday, Feb. 28-Sunday, March 9 | Times vary | Panther Island Pavilion | $18+ | Spend an afternoon under the big top at the world’s largest circus.
Saturday, March 1 Butterflies in the Garden | Saturday, March 1-Wednesday, April 30 | Times vary | Fort Worth Botanic Garden | $0+ | See thousands of live, exotic butterflies from around the world as they flitter through the Rainforest Conservatory.
Saturday, April 5 26th Annual Zoo Run | 6:30 a.m. | Fort Worth Zoo | $35+ | Lace up, hit the ground running, and dash past your favorite animals while supporting wildlife conservation and education efforts locally and around the world.*
Forks at the ready.Spice and Slice Halal Market just opened in the Basswood Crossing shopping center, serving up Indian + Nepalese eats and butcher-prepared cuts to take home. The menu has dozens of options, including popular dishes like samosas, biryani, and tandoori chicken. (CultureMap Fort Worth)
Concert
The C.R.E.A.M. of the 90s hip-hop crop is heading to Fort Worth later this year. Legendary rap group Wu-Tang Clan just announced its final-ever US tour, including a stop at Cowtown’s Dickies Arena on Friday, June 13. Get ready to snag your tickets. (WFAA
Community
Want to shout out your favorite Fort Worth spots? You can vote now in the Star-Telegram’s DFW Favorites contest. Categories include entertainment, agriculture, eat + drink, and things to do. Voting is open through Friday, March 7.
Open
Quirky small business hub Walt’s Garage recently opened its doors in Denton. In the back half of the shop, Bullseye Bike Shop sells two-wheeled delights, while Record Coffee Supply serves up joe + treats in the front. The historic building at 108 W. McKinney St. was formerly a bus depot. (CultureMap Fort Worth)
Coming Soon
A new live music venue is coming to Sundance Square. The Spotlight will occupy the former home of Reata, Melt Ice Cream, and Four Day Weekend at 310 Houston St., and is set to open before summer arrives. When we know more, you’ll know more. (Dallas Business Journal)
Feel Good
Among this past weekend’s 26,000 runners at the 2025 Cowtown Marathon were two people who celebrated in unconventional — but romantic — fashion. Navy veterans Chad and Paula Ludwick ran the half marathon event, and then renewed their wedding vows. Hopefully they showered first. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Trending
The Ponder Independent School District in Denton County is moving to a four-day school week for the 2025-26 academic year. WFAA digital journalist Ryan Osborne has the scoop.
Sports
Relive Jason Robertson’s third career hat trick. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Stars with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Finance
Top firms like SoftBank already invested in Pacaso, the startup disrupting the $1.3 trillion vacation home market with co-ownership. By handing keys to 1,500+ homeowners, Pacaso earned over $100 million in gross profits. Now, they’re going global. Invest for $2.70 per shareby Thursday, Feb. 27.†*
†This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com.
The Buy
The Buy
A chic new outfit from Rent the Runway. Always have something new to wear, whether you’re turning heads at brunch, nailing the office vibe, or all dressed up for a wedding — renting 10 new designer items a month starts at $89. Bonus: Rentals include fast delivery, dry-cleaning, and returns picked up directly from your home.*
Crawfish season is back, and there’s plenty of choices in North Texas. We’re planning a guide for the best local spots for a boil — send in your recommendations.
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