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Sibley was born to J. Dale Sibley (1923-2006) and the former [[Marilyn McAdams Sibley|Marilyn McAdams]], a native of Walker County who was an author of eight books and a [[historian]] at Houston Baptist University in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. Sibley lost both parents six months apart in the same year. J. Dale and Marilyn later returned and retired to Huntsville, the seat of government for Walker County. David Sibley is the oldest of their three sons; his brothers, both dentists, are Dr. Stuart Dale Sibley and Dr. Mark McAdams Sibley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://itemonline.com/obituaries/x212525826/Dr-Marilyn-McAdams-Sibley/print|title=Obituary of Dr. Marilyn McAdams Sibley|publisher=''Huntsville Item''|date=January 19, 2006|accessdate=June 3, 2020}}</ref>​

Sibley was born to J. Dale Sibley (1923-2006) and the former [[Marilyn McAdams Sibley|Marilyn McAdams]], a native of Walker County who was an author of eight books and a [[historian]] at Houston Baptist University in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]. Sibley lost both parents six months apart in the same year. J. Dale and Marilyn later returned and retired to Huntsville, the seat of government for Walker County. David Sibley is the oldest of their three sons; his brothers, both dentists, are Dr. Stuart Dale Sibley and Dr. Mark McAdams Sibley.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://itemonline.com/obituaries/x212525826/Dr-Marilyn-McAdams-Sibley/print|title=Obituary of Dr. Marilyn McAdams Sibley|publisher=''Huntsville Item''|date=January 19, 2006|accessdate=June 3, 2020}}</ref>​

Sibley is a 1970 graduate of [[Baptist]]-affiliated [[Baylor University]] in Waco, where he was the captain of the [[basketball]] team and was named "Honorable mention"  All-Southwest Conference. He graduated with honors from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1974 and finished a four-year residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in [[Dallas]]. Originally a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, he was sidelined by a ruptured disc and switched professions. He attended Baylor University Law School in Waco, from which he graduated in 1989, was admitted to the bar, and then worked as a criminal prosecutor for the McLennan County, district attorney.<ref name=cook/>​

Sibley is a 1970 graduate of [[Baptist]]-affiliated [[Baylor University]] in Waco, where he was the captain of the [[basketball]] team and was named "Honorable mention"  in the All-Southwest Conference. He graduated with honors from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1974 and finished a four-year residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in [[Dallas]]. Originally a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, he was sidelined by a ruptured disc and switched professions. He attended Baylor University Law School in Waco, from which he graduated in 1989, was admitted to the bar, and then worked as a criminal prosecutor for the McLennan County, district attorney.<ref name=cook/>​

Prior to his state Senate service, Sibloey was the mayor of Waco from 1987 to 1988, then an appointed position. He was the District III city council member from 1984 until he became mayor for a year.<ref>"=City of Waco, Texas, Mayor and Council since 1895," Waco-texas.com, accessed September 19, 2010; material no longer on-line.</ref> As a senator, he was recognized three times by ''Texas Monthly'' [[magazine]] as among the "Top 10" legislators.<ref name=cook>"State Rep. Byron Cook Endorsed David Sibley for May 8 State Senate Special Election," Sibleyforsenate.com, accessed September 19, 2010; material no longer accessible on-line.</ref>​

Prior to his state Senate service, Sibloey was the mayor of Waco from 1987 to 1988, then an appointed position. He was the District III city council member from 1984 until he became mayor for a year.<ref>"=City of Waco, Texas, Mayor and Council since 1895," Waco-texas.com, accessed September 19, 2010; material no longer on-line.</ref> As a senator, he was recognized three times by ''Texas Monthly'' [[magazine]] as among the "Top 10" legislators.<ref name=cook>"State Rep. Byron Cook Endorsed David Sibley for May 8 State Senate Special Election," Sibleyforsenate.com, accessed September 19, 2010; material no longer accessible on-line.</ref>​

As a senator, Sibley chaired the Business and Commerce Committee for four sessions. He carried bills to deregulate the telephone and electric industries. Late in 2000, he lost the Senate vote for lieutenant governor by a single ballot, 16-15.<ref name=stutz>Terrence Stutz, "David Sibley wants to come back to Senate," ''The Dallas Morning News,'' March  17, 2010.</ref> The vacancy was created when [[Rick Perry]] resigned to become governor upon the election of George W. Bush as president. Instead the position went to another Moderate Republican and a former Democrat, Bill Ratliff of Mt. Pleasant, in East Texas, who finished the remaining two years but did not seek a full term in 2002. Another Republican, Senator [[J. E. "Buster" Brown]] of Lake Jackson, had also sought the position before the final vote.<ref name=stutz/>

As a senator, Sibley chaired the Business and Commerce Committee for four sessions. He carried bills to deregulate the telephone and electric industries. Late in 2000, he lost the Senate vote for lieutenant governor by a single ballot, 16-15.<ref name=stutz>Terrence Stutz, "David Sibley wants to come back to Senate," ''The Dallas Morning News,'' March  17, 2010.</ref> The vacancy was created when [[Rick Perry]] resigned to become governor upon the election of George W. Bush as president. Instead the position went to another Moderate Republican and a former Democrat, Bill Ratliff of Mt. Pleasant, in East Texas, who finished the remaining two years but did not seek a full term in 2002. Another Republican, Senator [[J. E. "Buster" Brown]] of Lake Jackson, had also sought the position before the final vote.<ref name=stutz/>

Sibley, Ratliff, and Teel Bivins of [[Amarillo]] had formed something of a Texas senate triumvirate, known as the College of Cardinals, during the 1990s to make the institution supposedly to function more  smoothly. A Dallas blogger described Sibley's 2010 special election defeat as "unthinkable. He was one of the most talented, smart, and respected legislators."<ref name=unthinkable>"David Sibley's unthinkable loss," ''The Dallas Morning News,'' =June 23, 2010.</ref>

Sibley, Ratliff, and Teel Bivins of [[Amarillo]] had formed something of a Texas senate triumvirate, known as the College of Cardinals, during the 1990s to make the institution supposedly to function more  smoothly. A Dallas blogger described Sibley's 2010 special election defeat as "unthinkable. He was one of the most talented, smart, and respected legislators."<ref name=unthinkable>"David Sibley's unthinkable loss," ''The Dallas Morning News,'' June 23, 2010.</ref>

In the March 2, 2010 Republican primary, Kip Averitt won renomination to the Senate despite his announced intention to withdraw from the contest after the filing deadline had passed. Birdwell then won the special election over Sibley and prevailed as well in a lawsuit challenging his residency. Birdwell's Democrat opponent withdrew from the contest.<ref name=stutz/>​ Former state Representative Byron Cook, a Moderate Republican from Corsicana in Navarro County located within Senate District 22, endorsed Sibley's unsuccessful effort to return to the Senate in 2010. Cook described Sibley as having been "a workhorse" who spearheaded many of Governor Bush's "conservative reforms including tax cuts, economic development initiatives, tougher criminal penalties, and patient rights insurance reform."<ref name=cook/>​

In the March 2, 2010 Republican primary, Kip Averitt won renomination to the Senate despite his announced intention to withdraw from the contest after the filing deadline had passed. Birdwell then won the special election over Sibley and prevailed as well in a lawsuit challenging his residency. Birdwell's Democrat opponent withdrew from the contest.<ref name=stutz/>​ Former state Representative Byron Cook, a Moderate Republican from Corsicana in Navarro County located within Senate District 22, endorsed Sibley's unsuccessful effort to return to the Senate in 2010. Cook described Sibley as having been "a workhorse" who spearheaded many of Governor Bush's "conservative reforms including tax cuts, economic development initiatives, tougher criminal penalties, and patient rights insurance reform."<ref name=cook/>​