David Magee is an inspirational speaker on student, family and community well-being, a podcast host, and the bestselling author of the award-winning book Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love and Loss. Featured on CBS Mornings, Dear William is a Publisher’s Weekly national bestseller, a Best Book of the South 2021 (Reckon), and receiving a Starred Review from Kirkus. It's in development for film by director Andrew Hyatt (The Blind; Sight).

David's guide book Things Have Changed: What Every Parent (and Educator) Should Know About the Student Mental Health, Substance Misuse Crisis published in August 2023, is an expansion of the popular mental health and substance misuse talk he delivers to parents.

David is a sought-after speaker in communities, companies, schools, universities nationwide, inspirationally addressing mental health resiliency and recovery, and finding lasting joy and purpose. His message about what is often a difficult topic is well-received by audiences because it is relatable, inspirational and applicable.

He's a creator of the William Magee Institute for Student Wellbeing at the University of Mississippi. The Magee Institute is named after David's late son, William, who died of an accidental drug overdose. 

In addition to the Magee Institute, David helped inspire and create the William Magee Center for Wellness Education at the University of Mississippi, which focuses on helping students on campus with alcohol and other drug education and support.

David has been a daily newspaper publisher, a media company president, an award-winning columnist for newspapers and Newsweek, a small business owner, a regular guest on CNBC, and once hosted a national cable TV and radio program — The David Magee Show.

He is the author of a dozen books including How Toyota Became #1 (Penguin), named a Top 10 Business Book of the Year from the American Library Association, and The Education of Mr. Mayfield, a best book of the South (2009). Other books include The John Deere Way (Wiley) and Playing to Win: Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys (Random).

You can even find David featured prominently on multiple History Channel episodes, including explaining America's history with inventing charcoal and the outdoor barbecue as we know it today and the surprising history of rental cars and the country's role in that.

David and his wife, Kent, live in Oxford, Mississippi. They have six grandchildren.