A resident of Breckenridge since 1918, Daniel was president of First National Bank and an independent oil operator; owner of three of the largest ranches in the Stephens County area. He was past president of the Chamber of Commerce and member of the present board. He was a multi-millionaire bachelor. For years, he made it a practice to donate money to various causes with minimum fanfare. A graduate of Texas Christian University, he gave $97,000 annually to the school. In October 1957, the university dedicated the M.E. Daniel Hall for girls, which he had donated. In ill health for some time, Mr. Daniel retired from many activities in July 1957. Among his charities was sending many boys and girls to TCU. He was chairman of the board for Texas Christian University. Until his death, he lived alone in a mansion on the east side of Breckenridge, Texas with a housekeeper and two servants. He was only two or three years old when his father died. He was the fourth son born to the family. When Daniel was four years old, his mother brought the family to Texas and made a home in Waco. The mother died when young Daniel was 10 years old. He and his two brothers went into a Methodist orphan's home at Waco. He was released from the home a short while later to a cousin, E.E. Cammack of Waco, appointed guardian. Mr. Daniel was 16 years old when he left his guardian's home to enter prep school at TCU. In 1908, he enrolled for college training at TCU. He graduated from TCU in 1912, four year letterman in baseball and football; he captain the 1911 Horned Frog team. In the fall of 1912, he entered the University of Texas, where he was a two year letterman in football and charter member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Daniel took an L.B. degree there. An honorary L.D. degree he added in 1945 at TCU. In 1938, the school voted him its most valuable alumni. After his death, Milton E. Daniel's estate was left $7,000,000 in trust to TCU. Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, built in 1962, on the TCU campus is named for Mr. Daniel. Admitted to the bar in June 1915, Mr. Daniel was a professor of law at TCU for two years and coached the TCU football team for those two years. He was commissioned a National Guard captain in 1917 but resigned and re-enlisted as a buck private. He emerged with a discharge in 1918 as second Lieutenant. Coming to Breckenridge in 1919, he took a job as private secretary and attorney for B.S. Walker, then president of First National Bank in Breckenridge. Mr. Daniel rose to a directorship of the bank by 1923. Then on 25 April 1929, he became the bank president. He was named a director of Fort Worth's First National Bank in 1944. Business interests include cattle, rancher, an abstract business, ownership of the Ford agency in Breckenridge, directorship of Denison & Pacific Railway Co., first president of the West Central Texas Municipal Water District, a post he resigned on 1 July 1957, due to failing health. He owned three of the largest ranches in this section. Mr. Daniel was vice president and director of the Brazos River Authority for 20 years. He was responsible for building Lake Daniel, the present city water supply for Breckenridge. He was active in the construction of the First Christian Church of Breckenridge since he had belonged since 1953. He was a member of the American Legion, Masonic Lodge and the Lions Club.
Surviving are his two nieces - Mrs. Marvin S. Clark and Mrs. O.P. Barnett; one great-nephew - William Daniel Barrett.
He was preceded in death by his older brother - Claude Daniel, 12 years of age who was killed in an accident at the orphanage and G. Porter Daniel, who died here in Breckenridge.
Surviving are his two nieces - Mrs. Marvin S. Clark and Mrs. O.P. Barnett; one great-nephew - William Daniel Barrett.
He was preceded in death by his older brother - Claude Daniel, 12 years of age who was killed in an accident at the orphanage and G. Porter Daniel, who died here in Breckenridge.
A resident of Breckenridge since 1918, Daniel was president of First National Bank and an independent oil operator; owner of three of the largest ranches in the Stephens County area. He was past president of the Chamber of Commerce and member of the present board. He was a multi-millionaire bachelor. For years, he made it a practice to donate money to various causes with minimum fanfare. A graduate of Texas Christian University, he gave $97,000 annually to the school. In October 1957, the university dedicated the M.E. Daniel Hall for girls, which he had donated. In ill health for some time, Mr. Daniel retired from many activities in July 1957. Among his charities was sending many boys and girls to TCU. He was chairman of the board for Texas Christian University. Until his death, he lived alone in a mansion on the east side of Breckenridge, Texas with a housekeeper and two servants. He was only two or three years old when his father died. He was the fourth son born to the family. When Daniel was four years old, his mother brought the family to Texas and made a home in Waco. The mother died when young Daniel was 10 years old. He and his two brothers went into a Methodist orphan's home at Waco. He was released from the home a short while later to a cousin, E.E. Cammack of Waco, appointed guardian. Mr. Daniel was 16 years old when he left his guardian's home to enter prep school at TCU. In 1908, he enrolled for college training at TCU. He graduated from TCU in 1912, four year letterman in baseball and football; he captain the 1911 Horned Frog team. In the fall of 1912, he entered the University of Texas, where he was a two year letterman in football and charter member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Daniel took an L.B. degree there. An honorary L.D. degree he added in 1945 at TCU. In 1938, the school voted him its most valuable alumni. After his death, Milton E. Daniel's estate was left $7,000,000 in trust to TCU. Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, built in 1962, on the TCU campus is named for Mr. Daniel. Admitted to the bar in June 1915, Mr. Daniel was a professor of law at TCU for two years and coached the TCU football team for those two years. He was commissioned a National Guard captain in 1917 but resigned and re-enlisted as a buck private. He emerged with a discharge in 1918 as second Lieutenant. Coming to Breckenridge in 1919, he took a job as private secretary and attorney for B.S. Walker, then president of First National Bank in Breckenridge. Mr. Daniel rose to a directorship of the bank by 1923. Then on 25 April 1929, he became the bank president. He was named a director of Fort Worth's First National Bank in 1944. Business interests include cattle, rancher, an abstract business, ownership of the Ford agency in Breckenridge, directorship of Denison & Pacific Railway Co., first president of the West Central Texas Municipal Water District, a post he resigned on 1 July 1957, due to failing health. He owned three of the largest ranches in this section. Mr. Daniel was vice president and director of the Brazos River Authority for 20 years. He was responsible for building Lake Daniel, the present city water supply for Breckenridge. He was active in the construction of the First Christian Church of Breckenridge since he had belonged since 1953. He was a member of the American Legion, Masonic Lodge and the Lions Club.
Surviving are his two nieces - Mrs. Marvin S. Clark and Mrs. O.P. Barnett; one great-nephew - William Daniel Barrett.
He was preceded in death by his older brother - Claude Daniel, 12 years of age who was killed in an accident at the orphanage and G. Porter Daniel, who died here in Breckenridge.
Surviving are his two nieces - Mrs. Marvin S. Clark and Mrs. O.P. Barnett; one great-nephew - William Daniel Barrett.
He was preceded in death by his older brother - Claude Daniel, 12 years of age who was killed in an accident at the orphanage and G. Porter Daniel, who died here in Breckenridge.
