James Clinton Mcdaniel

James was born August 16, 1918 in May, Texas. His parents were Dr. Horace & Myrtie McDaniel.

James was raised in May, Texas and graduated from May High School in 1936. He attended John Tarleton Agricultural College in Stephenville, Texas. He was a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Cadets and was awarded the Tarleton Varsity “T” in football, basketball and track. James graduated with an Associate Degree in Science from John Tarleton Agricultural College in May of 1938.

James transferred to the University of North Texas in the fall of 1938. He was a remarkably talented athlete playing football and running track at North Texas State, now called the University of North Texas.

The North Texas State Eagle’s men’s mile relay team set a Lone Star Conference record for a 3.15 mile and was noted to be one of the fastest clocked time for the one mile relay ever recorded in the south at that time. The North Texas distance relay team went on to run the one mile relay at the Penn Relays in Franklin, Pennsylvania in 1939. Newspapers described the four man team as “the high step-in Cowboys from the Lone Star State,” and noted that they were “leaving their high heeled boots and 10 gallon cowboy hats in the dressing room to run,” and were described as “the quartet to fear in the Penn Relays.”

In addition to running track, James was a running back for the North Texas State Eagles football team. The Eagles were the 1939 football champions of the Lone Star Conference. The newspapers reported, “The Eagles met defeat only once this season at the hands of the Southern Methodist University Mustangs.” The starting players were awarded a gold football charm with a small diamond in the center. This remained a treasured item of James’ that he was most proud of for his entire life.

His most notable accomplishment while at North Texas State was meeting his future wife, Helen Howard Miller. James McDaniel graduated from North Texas State in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science. He had plans to attend medical school like his father, Dr. Horace McDaniel and his brother, Dr. Macfield McDaniel, but due to the start of WWII, was not able to do so. After graduation from college, James worked as a science teacher and coach for the Lewisville ISD. James McDaniel and Helen Miller were married August 15th, 1942.

After teaching and coaching for the Lewisville ISD, he and his new bride moved to the city of Panhandle, Texas in 1943. James taught Biology and was the coach for the Panhandle Panthers football and basketball team.

James was 26 when his wife Helen and he had their only child, a daughter, Karen Lynn McDaniel, born May 27, 1945 in Amarillo, Texas.

The McDaniel family continued to live in Panhandle for a few years before moving to Plainview, Texas where James and Helen made their permanent home. James changed professions and elected to leave teaching and coaching to farm land that had belonged to his father.

James grew cotton, corn and soy for 38 years, from 1946 to the time of his retirement in 1984. He was 76 years of age when he retired.

James and Helen retired to Kerrville, Texas in 1984. They elected to move to Kerrville for the cooler climate and the number of golf courses in the immediate area. Eventually they purchased a home on the Riverhill golf course. Both were active members of the Riverhill Country Club and enjoyed playing golf, tennis and socializing with numerous friends. They also had a second home in the mountains of Alto, New Mexico. James and Helen were duo residents for the next 18 years

Their first great-grandchild, Reid Katherine Stillwagoner was born August 23, 1997 and second great-grandchild, Riley Elizabeth Stillwagoner was born June 20, 2001.

James remained an avid sports enthusiast. He was tenacious on the tennis court, playing 2-3 times per week with friends and was considered “impossible to beat” on the court. One of his friends stated, “some of my fondest memories are of James beating me on the tennis court. He loved to play tennis!” Later in life he enjoyed playing golf with Helen, taking walks in the evenings, riding his bike outdoors or on his indoor exercise bike. When not playing a sport, he was an avid football fan. He always rooted for the Cowboys and his friends remember him diligently wearing his Cowboy’s football cap. He loved relaxing on his deck in Alto, often times sipping on a glass of “pink” wine, visiting with good friends while admiring the mountain view. He also enjoyed afternoon naps, particularly with his favorite cat dozing beside him.

James was preceded in death by his wife of sixty years, Helen Miller McDaniel, November 28, 2002 and his daughter, Karen McDaniel Payne, October 10, 1998.

James McDaniel, more commonly known as “grandpa” will be greatly missed. He was a genuine, loving, caring, hardworking, Christian man who was dedicated to his family. He was recently described by those that new him as “the sweetest man, always so kind and polite to everyone.” “They don’t make them like that anymore, James was a good man.”

James McDaniel is survived by his granddaughter, Meagen Driskill, husband, Ray Driskill, and five great- grandchildren; Reid Stillwagoner, Riley Stillwagoner, Alec Driskill, Caden Driskill, & Tate Driskill.