Bill Daniel
Encyclopedia
William Partlow Daniel (20 November 1915 – 20 June 2006), was a Governor of Guam and Democratic
member of the Texas House of Representatives
. Born in Dayton, Texas
, and a graduate of Baylor University
, he spent the majority of his life working as a lawyer in Liberty County, Texas
.
Bill Daniel was born into a wealthy and prominent Texas family, his older brother Price Daniel
Sr. went on to become Governor of Texas
, Texas Supreme Court Justice
and a US Senator. Daniel made large donations to good causes especially to his alma mater
Baylor University, several of the campus
buildings are named after him, his late wife Vara and other members of the Daniel family.
In 1961 President John F. Kennedy
appointed him to the position of Governor of Guam
, an office he held from May 20, 1961 to January 20, 1963.
His main achievement as Governor was to arrange for the removal of the requirement of a "security clearance" to enter or leave Guam, by persuading Kennedy to sign an Executive Order (No.11045), rescinding the one put in place during 1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
. The old (war-time) travel restrictions required that all civilians wishing to visit Guam needed to obtain approval from a senior US Navy officer based in Washington, D.C.
; this often took weeks to obtain. This was obviously an obstacle to development, especially in the area of tourism, and its removal greatly benefited the economy of the territory.
His appointment resulted in the first occasion in which brothers simultaneously held governorships in the United States, as his older brother Price was Governor of Texas for the entire time of his service as Governor of Guam.
film The Alamo
playing Colonel Neill. Daniel also provided the film with 400 longhorns
and hundreds of horses from his ranch.
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...
member of the Texas House of Representatives
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
. Born in Dayton, Texas
Dayton, Texas
Dayton is a city in Liberty County, Texas, United States. The population was 7,242 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, and a graduate of Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, he spent the majority of his life working as a lawyer in Liberty County, Texas
Liberty County, Texas
Liberty County is a county located in Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 75,643. Its county seat is Liberty.-Geography:According to the U.S...
.
Bill Daniel was born into a wealthy and prominent Texas family, his older brother Price Daniel
Price Daniel
Marion Price Daniel, Sr. , was a Democratic U.S. Senator and the 38th Governor of the state of Texas. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to be a member of the National Security Council, Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, and Assistant to the President for Federal-State...
Sr. went on to become Governor of Texas
Governor of Texas
The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...
, Texas Supreme Court Justice
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
and a US Senator. Daniel made large donations to good causes especially to his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
Baylor University, several of the campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
buildings are named after him, his late wife Vara and other members of the Daniel family.
Political career
From 1949 to 1953 he served as a Democratic Party member of the Texas House of Representatives for the 14th District, his brother Price had previously held this office from 1939 - 1945.In 1961 President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
appointed him to the position of Governor of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, an office he held from May 20, 1961 to January 20, 1963.
His main achievement as Governor was to arrange for the removal of the requirement of a "security clearance" to enter or leave Guam, by persuading Kennedy to sign an Executive Order (No.11045), rescinding the one put in place during 1941 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
. The old (war-time) travel restrictions required that all civilians wishing to visit Guam needed to obtain approval from a senior US Navy officer based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
; this often took weeks to obtain. This was obviously an obstacle to development, especially in the area of tourism, and its removal greatly benefited the economy of the territory.
His appointment resulted in the first occasion in which brothers simultaneously held governorships in the United States, as his older brother Price was Governor of Texas for the entire time of his service as Governor of Guam.
Acting career
Bill Daniel appeared in the John WayneJohn Wayne
Marion Mitchell Morrison , better known by his stage name John Wayne, was an American film actor, director and producer. He epitomized rugged masculinity and became an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive calm voice, walk, and height...
film The Alamo
The Alamo (1960 film)
The Alamo is a 1960 American historical epic released by United Artists. The film was directed by John Wayne, who also starred as Davy Crockett. The cast also includes Richard Widmark as Jim Bowie and Laurence Harvey as William B...
playing Colonel Neill. Daniel also provided the film with 400 longhorns
Texas longhorn (cattle)
The Texas Longhorn is a breed of cattle known for its characteristic horns, which can extend to tip to tip for steers and exceptional cows, and tip to tip for bulls. Horns can have a slight upward turn at their tips or even triple twist. Texas Longhorns are known for their diverse coloring...
and hundreds of horses from his ranch.