Darrell graduated from O’Connell Catholic High School in 1981 and Texas A&M University in 1986 with a degree in Building Construction. He then married his high school sweetheart, Pam Holland, and began his studies at South Texas College of Law. Upon graduation and passing the Texas Bar in 1989, he began practicing law as a solo practitioner in Alvin. In 1997, he formed Bettison, Doyle, Apffel & Guarino, P.C. and had worked alongside the same partners until 2016 when he opened Apffel Legal, PLLC with his son Blake.
Prior to becoming elected County Commissioner in 2016, Darrell served as the Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace for 12 years. During his first term as Commissioner, he cut the county property tax rate every year while increasing law enforcement and improving roads and drainage in the precinct.
Darrell A. Apffel was born on April 16, 1963 in Galveston, Texas to Ervin A. Apffel, Jr. and Christine Matthews Apffel. He was raised in Galveston County with his siblings, Ervin A. “Trey” Apffel, III., Jeannie Apffel Guarino, Pam Apffel Del Papa, Pat Apffel Whittington, and Christi Apffel Landry.
After graduating from college, Darrell and his wife Pam moved to South Shore Harbour in League City where they lived for ten years. They then moved to Texas City where they lived for 17 years and raised all three of their children, Blake, Kaleb and Allie.
Darrell served the legal community as a member of the State Bar of Texas for 29 years, the Texas Bar Foundation, as Former District 5c Grievance Committee for the State Bar, and as Past President and 29 year member of the Galveston County Bar Association.
Outside of the office, Darrell has volunteered for the Texas City High School Football, Baseball and Soccer Booster Clubs, Texas City Project Graduation and coached Little League in addition to countless other community programs throughout the county.
The consummate multitasker, Darrell still balances his ventures with community and philanthropic activities across the county. Today, Darrell and Pam live in South Shore Harbour in League City with their three dogs.
