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 1960–1967
Preceded by	C. Stuart Wheatley
Succeeded by	Calvin Fowler
Personal details
Born	(1914-05-12)May 12, 1914 Chatham, Virginia
Died	Charlottesville, Virginia
Resting place	Highland Burial Park, Danville, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Dan River Textile School
Profession	businessman
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Battles/wars	Second World War

Wilbur Clarence (Dan) Daniel (May 12, 1914 – January 23, 1988) was a U.S. Representative from Virginia serving from 1969 until his death from a heart attack in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1988.

Biography

Born in Chatham, Virginia, Daniel grew up on a tobacco farm in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. 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 United States Navy during the Second World War, Daniel was associated with Dan River Mills, Inc (now Dan River Inc), the textile company that operated the mill on the Dan River. He advanced through the ranks of the business to become assistant to the board chairman.

As a veteran of the Second World War, Daniel was elected State commander of the American Legion in 1951, and became national commander in 1956. Daniel was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates from 1959 to 1968. He 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).

Daniel was elected as a Democrat to the 91st United States Congress, and to the nine succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1969, until his death from a heart attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, on January 23, 1988. At the time of his death he was a resident of Danville, Virginia. He was interred in Highland Burial Park, Danville.

Elections

• 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.

Sources

• Dan Daniel at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

• Dan Daniel at Encyclopedia Virginia

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by William M. Tuck	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 5th congressional district 1969–1988	Succeeded by Lewis F. Payne, Jr.