Dan Daniel (politician)
Encyclopedia
Wilbur Clarence Daniel (May 12, 1914 - January 23, 1988) was a U.S. Representative
from Virginia
, USA.
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 centre 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 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.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, USA.
Born in Chatham, Virginia
Chatham, Virginia
Chatham is a town in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. Chatham's population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chatham is home to Chatham High School and Hargrave Military Academy. It is also home to Chatham Hall , an...
, Daniel grew up on a tobacco farm in Mecklenburg County, Virginia
Mecklenburg County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 32,727 people, 12,951 households, and 8,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile . There were 17,403 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
. He was educated in Virginia schools, and was a graduate of Dan River Textile School, Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
. Danville, on the Dan River
Dan River
The Dan River flows in the U.S. states of North Carolina and Virginia. It originates in Patrick County, Virginia, and crosses the state border into Stokes County, North Carolina. It then flows into Rockingham County. From there it goes back into Virginia. It reenters North Carolina near the...
, was at the time a centre 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
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
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
Dan River
The Dan River flows in the U.S. states of North Carolina and Virginia. It originates in Patrick County, Virginia, and crosses the state border into Stokes County, North Carolina. It then flows into Rockingham County. From there it goes back into Virginia. It reenters North Carolina near the...
. 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
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
in 1951, and became national commander in 1956. Daniel was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
from 1959 to 1968. He was President of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
in 1968, and was a permanent member of the President's People-to-People Committee (now People to People International
People to People International
People to People International was established on September 11, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as part of the U.S. Information Agency...
).
Daniel was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the 91st United States Congress
91st United States Congress
The Ninety-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1969 to January 3, 1971, during the first two years...
, and to the nine succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1969, until his death in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, on January 23, 1988. At the time of his death he was a resident of Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
. He was interred in Highland Burial Park, Danville.