Leon County\u2019s longtime Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts, Dave Lang, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2026, following a long battle with cancer.<\/p>\n
\u201cDave Lang gave Leon County more than 42 years of exemplary public service,\u201d said Leon County Commission Chairman Christian Caban. \u201cHe began his career here in 1959 as Chief Deputy Clerk and was elected Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts in 1992, guiding that office through the historic 2000 Presidential Election and leading it to become the first in the nation to place court records online. Though I did not have the privilege of serving alongside Dave, his legacy lives throughout this community. It is present in the courthouse, in the civic organizations he helped lead and in the local history he preserved for future generations. On behalf of the Board of County Commissioners, our hearts are with the Lang family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond his decades at the Clerk\u2019s office, Lang\u2019s life reflected a broader commitment to service and community. A U.S. Army veteran who retired as a lieutenant colonel, he was awarded the Army Humanitarian Service Medal for his participation in the 1980 Cuban Boat Lift Operation. A sixth-generation Floridian and popular local historian, Lang dedicated much of his retirement to researching and preserving the history of Tallahassee and Leon County, and he served with civic organizations including the Tallahassee Historical Society, the John G. Riley Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, the Tallahassee Lions Club and Springtime Tallahassee.<\/p>\n
\u201cDave was a consummate professional and a dedicated public servant, a true gentleman in every sense,\u201d said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. \u201cOn behalf of the men and women of Leon County Government, he will be missed and our thoughts go out to the Lang family during this difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lang was also an active member of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe mourn the passing of Dave Lang, a cherished and longtime member of the Tallahassee Quarterback Club. Dave was, in every sense, one of the finest gentlemen our community has known\u2014kind, genuine, and always carrying a warm smile that made others feel welcome. For many years, he faithfully offered the invocation at our dinner gatherings, setting the tone with grace and sincerity. His steady presence and quiet character left a lasting impression on all who had the privilege to know him,\u201d said Hugh Tomlinson, Club President.<\/p>\n