Debbie Johnson Stafford

Advancement Board Member
Co-owner and Managing Broker of Stafford Team Real Estate — residential, farm and ranch, commercial, investment, consultation, and land development
Website: StaffordTeam.com

Alum: 1977, B.F.A., Studio Art: Metalsmithing and Jewelry; 1980, M.S., Industrial Arts

About

Debbie Johnson Stafford is a mom of three wonderful kids who are her pride and joy. Being a single parent for many years gave her insight into single parents' struggles. It also allowed her to develop many valuable skills in business, including conversation, interrogation, negotiation, and closing a deal. She often considered herself a wrangler of children, animals, and her real estate business. For those non-Texans, wranglers typically rode fast horses and kept the horses, cattle, and chuckwagon headed in the right direction.

When she and Charles married, they had been business partners for many years. They combined seven children, six dogs, six cats, one snake, and a guinea pig. On any given day, they could be found on a spectrum somewhere between the Addams Family and the Brady Bunch.

Debbie and Charles share a good sense of humor, their best survival skill. Charles attended the University of Texas, and she attended the University of North Texas. Contrary to popular belief, burnt orange and mean green do indeed complement each other.

Charles grew up in West Texas and brought with him the characteristics embedded in West Texas natives, including the ability to be an incredible storyteller. His extraordinary work ethic serves their family, clients, and local charities well. Debbie is a Denton native but has also lived in Dallas, Missouri, and graduated from high school in Ohio. She grew up with three sets of grandparents whose occupations included a peanut farmer, a seamstress, a mayor, a dry cleaner shop owner, an artist, a radio shop owner, and a dry goods store owner. One set of grandparents had the oldest radio shop in Texas at Denton on the Square. They were also good friends with movie director Cecil B. DeMille — a bit of trivia.

Out of all the family mentors, her father was the most powerful influence on her life. He would say, “Help everybody you can afford to help and don’t look back and judge what they did or didn’t do with your help.” Debbie says she has applied this thinking to her actions in life.

Debbie mentions all this to say she comes from hard-working, generous people who set a fabulous example of work ethic and community leadership. She brings much of their rural values and integrity to the real estate table. They rose from an agricultural background to become merchants and entrepreneurs. That led them to be business, church, and civic leaders. Their examples of hard work and honest dealings have greatly influenced the family through the years.

Debbie invests her time and heart in making their community a better place. She passionately supports non-profit boards focusing on causes for children and animals. To name a few: Denton Animal Shelter Foundation, Children’s Advocacy Center of Denton County, Denton Benefit League, and Fred Moore Day Nursery School. She raised capital for Habitat for Humanity’s first all-women home build in Denton. She has also served many years for her alma mater on the College of Visual Arts and Design Advisory and Advancement Council. She and Charles co-chaired the University of North Texas Green Light for Greatness Campaign for the College of Public Affairs and Community Service. She also continues to support a few equine and canine rescue groups.

Debbie earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of North Texas. She was also a barrier breaker for the University of North Texas as the first female to earn a Master of Science in Industrial Arts. This accomplishment gave her the tools and drive to become the Fort Worth Independent School District's first female industrial arts shop teacher.

With an art background as a foundation, she firmly embraces the concept that each property should have elevations with distinctive character and personality. She’s always said that it is essential to be able to recognize your home after dark! With her unique background insight, she managed the development of Thistle Hill Estates, where each house has unique custom designs.

Debbie and Charles love their community, their family, and their professions. They encourage others to join their community — it's a great place to live, work, play, and learn.