J.J. Daniel

Infobox person
name = J.J. Daniel

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image_size = 150px
birth_date = 1916
birth_place =
death_date = 1990
death_place =
nationality = American
alma_mater = University of Florida
Princeton University
known_for = Being designated a Great Floridian
spouse =

Jaquelin James Daniel (1916-1990), known as J.J. Daniel or Jack to his friends, was a lawyer, businessman, civic leader, newspaper publisher and confidant to governors, senators and assorted statesmen. He came from a powerful family, possessed power and wore it well. In the 1970s, the joke went like this:

"Who are the three most powerful men in Jacksonville?"

"J.J. Daniel, J.J. Daniel and J.J. Daniel."

Nearly 20 years after his death, most people in Jacksonville have no clue who J.J. Daniel was.

Family

J.J. Daniel was born in 1916 into one of Jacksonville, Florida’s pioneer families.
His great-grandfather was an attorney and lumberman who came to Florida in 1846.
His grandfather, J.J. Daniel (for whom he was named), was a Colonel in the Civil War and one of the most influential citizens of Jacksonville afterwards. He was also a principal in the prestigious Jacksonville law firm, Fleming and Daniel. The Colonel reorganized the Chamber of Commerce and served as President of the Citizens' Auxiliary Association before dying in Jacksonville's Yellow fever epidemic of 1888.
His father was a prominent lawyer and leader in the Urban League.

Early years

Jack played football at Princeton University, then received his law degree in 1942 from the University of Florida. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II and took part in the Invasion of Normandy. After the war, he joined his father’s Jacksonville law firm.

Career

In 1960, he became the president of Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co., one of the largest mortgage banking and real estate firms in the Southeast.

Daniel was named publisher of the Florida Times-Union and Jacksonville Journal in 1976. His grandfather was the first president of Florida Publishing Company, which owned the newspapers in 1888.

Consolidation

Daniel's powerful personality, unquestioned integrity, strong leadership and history of civic involvement made him the obvious choice when it came time to choose a leader to design a new government and write its charter in the wake of widespread corruption and waste in local government during the 1960s. The "Local Government Study Commission" was created by the Florida legislature in 1966 to develop a plan to merge city and county services. In 1968, Daniel led the effort to establish the only consolidated government in the state of Florida and one of the few in the nation. According to Time Magazine, [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,917433,00.html Time Magazine: May 12, 1975-Signs of Vitality] ]

"The hero of the consolidation of Jacksonville, Fla., where the voters in five municipalities chose to form one central government, is an enthusiastic oligarch named J.J. Daniel, who got his way simply because "he knew almost everybody of consequence in the community."

Power

In 1977, the St. Petersburg Times identified him as one of the 10 most powerful people in Florida. The paper stated that J.J. Daniel was: [ [http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/022199/cel_1p23powe.html Florida Times-Union: February 21, 1999-Power: You know it when you see it] ]

"A pillar of the North Florida business and political establishment...the man some call 'Mr. Jacksonville'...know [s] the pulse and conscience of Jacksonville...probably Jacksonville's most respected citizen...has a reputation for savvy, integrity and behind-the-scenes diligence in both business and politics and grows impatient and abrupt with people who don't."

J.J. Daniel was Chairman of the Florida Board of Regents and was instrumental in getting the University of North Florida established in Jacksonville. He was active in the founding of Episcopal High School of Jacksonville, and served on a number of non-profit boards including the American Red Cross, the District Welfare Board and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. Jaquelin James Daniel died in 1990 and was named a Great Floridian by the Florida Department of State, an honor extended to individuals who made major contributions to the progress and welfare of the state of Florida. His Great Floridian plaque is located at the Florida Times-Union Building on Riverside Avenue in Jacksonville.

References

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