Dan Daniel (politician)

Dan Daniel
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th district
In office
January 3, 1969 – January 23, 1988
Preceded by William M. Tuck
Succeeded by Lewis F. Payne, Jr.
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Danville
In office
1960 – 1968
Preceded by C. Stuart Wheatley
Succeeded by Calvin Fowler
National Commander of
The American Legion
In office
1956 – 1957
Preceded by J. Addington Wagner
Succeeded by John S. Gleason, Jr.
Personal details
Born Wilbur Clarence Daniel
(1914-05-12)May 12, 1914
Chatham, Virginia
Died January 23, 1988(1988-01-23) (aged 73)
Charlottesville, Virginia
Cause of death Aortic dissection
Resting place Highland Burial Park
Danville, Virginia
36°37′58.9″N 79°23′22.9″W / 36.633028°N 79.389694°W / 36.633028; -79.389694
Nationality American
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s)
Daisy Fines
(m. 1934–1939)

Ruby McGregor
(m. 1939–1988)
Children Jimmie Daniel (son)
Parents
  • Reuben Daniel
  • Georgia Grant
Education Dan River Textile School
Occupation Businessman
Awards French Order of Merit
Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, 1st Class
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Navy
Battles/wars World War II

Dan Daniel (born Wilbur Clarence Daniel; May 12, 1914 – January 23, 1988) was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia, serving from 1969 until his death from a heart attack in Charlottesville in 1988. He previously served as the National Commander of The American Legion from 1956 to 1957.

Life

Born in Chatham, Virginia, Dan Daniel grew up on a tobacco farm in Mecklenburg County. He was educated in Virginia schools, and was a graduate of Dan River Textile School, Danville, Virginia. Danville, on the Dan River, was at the time a center for the tobacco and textile industries. The name of the school references the textile industry, and the town is known for the Dan River textile mill, which was founded in 1883 and closed in 2006. From 1939 to 1968, except for a period of service in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he was associated with Dan River Mills (present day Dan River, Inc.), the textile industry that operated a mill on the Dan River. He advanced through the ranks of the textile business to become assistant to the chairman of the board at Dan River Mills. He was elected commander of The American Legion's Department of Virginia in 1951, and National Commander in 1956. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from 1959 to 1968, was President of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce in 1968, and was a permanent member of the President's People-to-People Committee (now People to People International). He was elected as a Democrat to the 91st United States Congress and to nine succeeding congresses, serving from January 3, 1969, until his death from a heart attack at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, on January 23, 1988.[1] He was interred in Highland Burial Park in Danville, Virginia.

Electoral history

  • 1968; Daniel was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 54.59% of the vote, defeating Republican Weldon W. Tuck and Independent Ruth L. Harvey.
  • 1970; Daniel was re-elected with 73.03% of the vote, defeating Republican Allen T. St. Clair.
  • 1972; Daniel was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1974; Daniel was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1976; Daniel was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1978; Daniel was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1980; Daniel was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1982; Daniel was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1984; Daniel was re-elected unopposed.
  • 1986; Daniel was re-elected with 81.54% of the vote, defeating Independent J.F. Cole.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Dan Daniel, Virginia Congressman, is Dead at 73". New York Times. January 24, 1988.

Further reading

  • "American Legion 39th National Convention: official program". American Legion. 1957. p. 3. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  • "American Legion Magazine". Vol. 61 no. 4. American Legion. October 1956. pp. 30, 36, 39. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  • United States Congress. "Dan Daniel (id: D000038)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Appearances on C-SPAN


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