T. Richard (Dick) Daniel

T. RICHARD (DICK) DANIEL, 100, a resident of Brandon Wilde, Evans, Georgia died October 26, 2018. A Native Augustan, Dick attended the Academy of Richmond County, The Junior College of Augusta, and was a 1938 graduate of The Citadel in Charleston, SC. After graduation he was commissioned into the United States Army Reserves as an infantry officer. He returned to Augusta and joined his father at The Daniel Company, a wholesale dry goods business.

During World War II he was a staff officer for the Eighth United States Army under Commanding General Robert Eichelberger. His primary duties were to function as a liaison between 8th Army and various guerrilla forces fighting the Japanese. He served in New Guinea and the Philippines. He also entered Japan with the occupation forces after the war ended. Upon returning to Augusta he continued to serve in the Army Reserves until his retirement in 1964 with the rank of Colonel.

In 1958, after his father retired and they closed The Daniel Company, Dick joined the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company in Augusta where he served in the position of district agent until his retirement in 1983.

He was the only son of the late Raleigh H. and Nell Nolan Daniel. Of his four sisters he is survived by Ann Daniel McKnight. He was preceded in death by sisters Elizabeth Daniel Wiggins, Nell Daniel Byne, and Clayton Daniel Jordan. Dick was married for 57 years to the late Margaret Jernigan Daniel of Augusta until her death in 1998. In late 1999 Dick married Marinelle Oliver Stowe of Wetumpka, Alabama. She died in 2000. After her death he married the former Martha Baggarly Bell in 2000. She died in 2018. With the exception of Thomas Richard Daniel, Jr., who died in 2018 (survived by Susan Brooks of Atlanta), Dick is survived by his children, Raleigh (Beth Marvin) Daniel and Margaret (James) Marvin of Aiken, and Warren (Margaret Nix) Daniel of Augusta. In addition, there are 11 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Additionally, Dick was also a loving step-father to Martha Bell Daniel’s children, Martha (Bob) Manly of Atlanta, John (Dee Dee) Bell and David (Susie) Bell of Augusta and many grandchildren who called him “Papa Dick.”
Dick loved Augusta and served his community in many ways. He was a member and past president of the Augusta Exchange Club. He was chairman of the Richmond County Hospital Authority where he was instrumental in the reorganization of University Hospital under University Health Services, Inc. After the reorganization he served as the first chairman of that board. He was at the helm when University Hospital built the Brandon Wilde Retirement Community in Evans. Dick and his wife, Margaret, were among the first residents of that community, and he continued to live there until his death.

The family wishes to express its appreciation for the care of Brandon Wilde personnel during the many years of his residence there. The family also expresses its appreciation to Alliance Hospice and Family Care of Thomson, Georgia and in particular Jasamine Bennett and Burnell Cave. who spent countless hours seeing to his care.

He was a member and past chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Augusta. He also was past member and chairman of boards of various financial institutions and other civic organizations in the city.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Augusta for his entire life where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for many years. He was a member of the Crusaders Bible Class. He was also chairman of the Church building committee which was responsible for leading the move of the church from downtown Augusta to its present location on Walton Way. In 2014 First Baptist Church honored Dick by naming the administration building on the campus, “The T. Richard Daniel Administrative Building”.

Dick loved the game of golf and played on the Richmond Academy and Citadel golf teams. In 1935 at age 17 he won the inaugural Southern Star Amateur tournament played at the Forest Hills Golf Club in a final match play round that lasted 43 holes. He was a member of the Augusta Country Club for all of his adult life and played many enjoyable rounds with friends over the years. One of the great pleasures of his life was the opportunity as a youth to follow golfer Bobby Jones as he played rounds of golf at the Augusta Country Club.

During his long life Dick was recognized by many organizations: The Golden Deeds award from the Exchange Club of Augusta, The Paul Harris Fellow award from the Rotary Club of Augusta, and the Jimmy Dyess Award from the Augusta Museum of History.

In 1986, Dick was presented the Liberty Bell Award by the Augusta Bar Association. The award read in part:
“Augusta is a better place and our system of freedom under the law has been strengthened by the example this man has set for personal involvement. His service epitomizes the highest and best community service and reinforces our belief in the American system which provides the framework for an individual to serve the public good.

“Mr. Daniel is loyal to his community and his church. He is a man of great courage and integrity who has quietly worked with unending persistence to improve our community. He is a gentleman whose congenial nature and keen sense of perception have enabled him to lead amidst controversy, always keeping his eye firmly fixed upon the job at hand.”

A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Augusta at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 30. Honorary invitees are the deacons of First Baptist Church, members of the Crusaders Sunday School Class, and members of the Augusta Exchange Club. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to First Baptist Church Debt Retirement Fund, PO Box 14489, Augusta, Georgia 30919. The internment will be private.

The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church following the memorial service.