Dan Daniel (politician)

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.

Dan Daniel
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Virginia's 5th district
In office
January 3, 1969 January 23, 1988
Preceded byWilliam M. Tuck
Succeeded byLewis F. Payne, Jr.
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Danville City
In office
January 13, 1960 – November 25, 1968
Preceded byC. Stuart Wheatley
Succeeded byCalvin W. Fowler
National Commander of
The American Legion
In office
1956 – 1957
Preceded byJ. Addington Wagner
Succeeded byJohn S. Gleason, Jr.
Personal details
Born
Wilbur Clarence Daniel

(1914-05-12)May 12, 1914
Chatham, Virginia
DiedJanuary 23, 1988(1988-01-23) (aged 73)
Charlottesville, Virginia
Cause of deathAortic dissection
Resting placeHighland Burial Park
Danville, Virginia
36°37′58.9″N 79°23′22.9″W
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
    Daisy Fines
    (m. 19341939)
      Ruby McGregor
      (m. 1939)
      ChildrenJimmie Daniel (son)
      Parents
      • Reuben Daniel
      • Georgia Grant
      EducationDan River Textile School
      OccupationBusinessman
      Awards French Order of Merit
      Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, 1st Class
      Military service
      Allegiance United States
      Branch/service United States Navy

      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 era, 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


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