Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science Charles Emmette McDaniel (June 12, 1932-) was born in Florala, Alabama. He is married to Barbara McDaniel and they have three children: Sara Jean (July 24, 1956-), Sharon Ruth (December 1, 1958-), and Charles Robert (September 9, 1963-). McDaniel attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, where he received a B.S. degree (1954) and an M.S. degree (1957) in physical education. He earned his Ph.D. degree in driver and traffic safety from Michigan State University, East Lansing, in 1970. McDaniel taught and coached in the Florida public schools for six years prior to becoming curriculum supervisor for driver education and physical education in Brevard County (1962-66). He held instructor positions at the University of Alabama, Memphis State University, and Michigan State University, and, in 1967, he became director of the Washington Traffic Education Project. McDaniel then served as an instructor at San Diego State College, San Diego, California. In 1971, Dr. McDaniel came to Appalachian State University as associate professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education, and director of the program in safety and driver education. The program soon evolved into the creation of the Center for Safety and Driver Education. McDaniel was promoted to professor in 1977. During his tenure, McDaniel helped develop a driver education teacher certificate program. This program included a student teaching component or internship in teaching driver education for teachers in other subject areas. In addition, under McDaniel's direction, an undergraduate major and master's program in driver and safety education were created. He developed a basic-level emergency medical technician training program in cooperation with the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services. He also helped coordinate a motorcycle rider training program, a school safety curriculum, a driver vehicle energy conservation program, a pupil transportation manual for school administrations, a driver education program for educable mentally disadvantaged students, and an advanced driving maneuvers training program. Additionally, McDaniel aided in the development of an emergency vehicle operator course for ambulance drivers, as well as a training program in which drivers and/or instructors in Georgia, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, and California participated. Moreover, he helped develop a chauffeur anti-terrorist driver training program, making Appalachian State the only university in the United States to develop and conduct this type of program. The chauffeurs for the Nelson and David Rockefeller families, the Marine Midland Bank of New York City, the Canadian Pipeline Company, and a number of diplomatic embassies, were trained in this program. Dr. McDaniel directed school bus workshops for supervisors, driver education teachers, and school administrators who had responsibility for pupil transportation. In recognition of his skill and field expertise, he also was selected for membership in the Technical Coordinating Committee of the Institute for Transportation Research and Education, and he served as president of the American Driver and Safety Education Association. His consultative experiences included working with driver education programs in the state and beyond. McDaniel was highly regarded as an expert in driver and safety education throughout the country. His accomplishments and leadership roles in professional organizations, such as his election to the board of directors of the National Safety Council, added significantly to the prestige of the Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science and the university. His research efforts led to the publication of several articles, including: • "What Road Tomorrow?" Safety (November-December 1966). • "The Madison Project-A Model Program in Driver Education." California Journal of Traffic Safety Education (June 1970). McDaniel retired from the Appalachian State in 1994, and in 1995, he was approved as professor emeritus by the Board of Trustees. After retirement, Dr. McDaniel continued to supervise the training of high school driver education students in the North Carolina counties of Wake and Guilford, and in the High Point, North Carolina schools. He also worked with industry and other governmental agencies in driver-improvement programs. Sources: Appalachian State University files. -Dr. Richard D. Howe
Comments