Biography of Gene E. Daniel
Gene Ellis Daniel was born in Akron, Ohio, on September 5,1923. His family moved to Doylestown where his father had been born when Gene was young and he grew up here graduating from Doylestown High School in 1941.
After high school, Gene was employed by the Ohio Injector Company but left to serve his country during World War II, joining the Army Air Corps in 1943. He trained and flew as a gunner, flight mechanic and radio operator aboard B-24 Liberator bombers in the Pacific. He attained the rank of Sergeant and left the service in 1946.
Gene married Margaret Faye Abel of Orrville, Ohio on December 20, 1944. They resided in Boise, Idaho, and Topeka, Kansas, while Gene was in the service. They returned to Ohio after the war and settled briefly in Norton, Ohio, where they lived for only a short time, moving back to Doylestown in 1948. Gene and Margaret built a home on Clinton Street in 1950, where Margaret continues to live.
After the War, Gene returned to Ohio injector, advancing from lathe operator to foreman of the Tool Room and General Stores. He stayed with the company until it closed in 1982 He said, "When the company closed, I was too young to quit work and too old to start over." From that point in 1982, Gene devoted his life to community service.
He served the people of Doylestown for over 36 years, begining in 1956 when he was first elected to the Village Council. Gene was elected President of the Council four times and was appointed to the Park Board, Street Committee, Planning Committee, Safety Committee and Finance Committee during his tenure. In 1967 he was elected mayor for the first time. He was the mayor for 20 years, with a break between 1971 and 1980, during which time he was appointed to the Council from 1971 to 1975. He was reelected in 1980 and remained the village mayor until he retired from public service in 1995.
During his time as mayor, Gene led significant infrastructure improvement projects that postured Doylestown for growth and expansion. The most notable were the $2.8 million upgrade to the waste water treatment plant in 1989-90; and the numerous storm water drain, curb, sidewalk and street repaving projects throughout the village, which cost over $1 mllion, most of the funding provided through block grants. Gene also garnered Doylestown's inaugural selection as Tree City USA in 1984, a distinction the village has held for over 15 years.
Gene devoted many years to service clubs and civic organizations, holding office or advisory positions in many. He was a 50-year member of Masonic Lodge 385 and a life member of Doylestown American Legion Post 407. He was a seven-year leader of Doylestown Boy Scout Troop 103, a past President of Doylestown PTA, and a past President of Doylestown Lions Club. Gene was a past president and member of Wayne County Mayor's Association. He was a member of the Wayne County Regional Planning Commission and the Wayne County Improvement Board. He also served as the Secretary-Treasurer of Wadsworth Federal Credit Union and was appointed to the Medway Drug Policy Committee. Gene was a 50-year member of the Doylestown United Methodist Church
Gene and Margaret were married for 54 years and they have four children; Sherry (Wells), Thomas, Jeanne (Akhavan), and Mari Jane (Brown). They have six grandchildren.
Gene died September 12, 1999.
The Village is proud to be able to dedicate this building to Gene's memory.