James Danieley
Encyclopedia
James Earl Danieley was the sixth president of Elon College (1957–1973), a private college in Elon, North Carolina and has contributed over 60 years of service to the school.
. He attended Elon College for his undergraduate education from 1941-1946. He then received his graduate degrees in organic chemistry
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
and conducted post-doctoral research at Johns Hopkins University
.
, Kay Yow
, to coach the first women’s basketball team at Elon. Yow also helped to organize both the first volleyball and softball teams at Elon. Yow became the all time leader in winning percentage at Elon in both women's basketball and volleyball. Before passing away due to cancer, Yow served as the head coach of the women’s basketball team at North Carolina State University
. Danieley created a solid foundation for soccer, cross country, and every women’s sport. Danieley was also well known for creating a supportive, well rounded athletic program. Academically, Danieley made the College Board’s SAT test a requirement for admission. He also expanded the library, built seven new buildings on campus and admitted Elon’s first black students. In 1972 he completed a 3 million dollar fund drive, and implemented Elon’s 4-1-4 semester system which still runs today. Danieley left the presidency post in 1973 to return to his roots as a chemistry teacher at Elon. Danieley says, “I quit being president after 16 years for primarily three reasons. One, I had accomplished basically what I has set out to do and number two, I was tired, and number three, I wanted to teach." In 1987, Danieley reduced his teaching hours to serve as Elon’s director of planned giving in the development office, which he served until 1992. Today, Danieley remains an active faculty member of the Elon University community.
game, with 10 minutes remaining in the game, all the students began chanting, “Dr. Danieley.” The first time he acknowledged the crowd by standing and waving but the second time he brought a towel just in case they were to chant his name again. So now it has become a tradition of Elon home men’s basketball games to chant his name with Dr. Danieley waving a white towel with around 10 minutes to go in the game.
Early life
Danieley grew up in Alamance County, North CarolinaAlamance County, North Carolina
Alamance County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It coincides with the Burlington, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He attended Elon College for his undergraduate education from 1941-1946. He then received his graduate degrees in organic chemistry
Organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
and conducted post-doctoral research at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
.
Career
Danieley was first offered a job as freshman chemistry teacher at Elon College which he gladly accepted. Danieley noted, “There was no question. I loved being at Elon. It was a no-brainer, you don't even have to think about that. I just came right on back." Danieley served as Dean of the college from 1953-1956. On July 1, 1957 the Board of Trustees elected Danieley the sixth president of Elon College, succeeding Leon Edgar Smith who served from 1931-1957.Accomplishments
During his tenure as president of Elon College, one of Danieley’s biggest impacts was in athletics. He was known for his innovative ideas in athletics and played a major role in the expansion of women’s athletics at Elon College. In 1972, Danieley hired a high school coach from Gibsonville, North CarolinaGibsonville, North Carolina
Gibsonville is a town in Alamance and Guilford counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is part of the Greensboro-High Point, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Kay Yow
Kay Yow
Sandra Kay Yow was an American basketball coach. She was the head coach of the NC State Wolfpack women's basketball team from 1975 to 2009. A member of the Naismith Hall of Fame, she had more than 700 career wins. She also coached the U.S...
, to coach the first women’s basketball team at Elon. Yow also helped to organize both the first volleyball and softball teams at Elon. Yow became the all time leader in winning percentage at Elon in both women's basketball and volleyball. Before passing away due to cancer, Yow served as the head coach of the women’s basketball team at North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
. Danieley created a solid foundation for soccer, cross country, and every women’s sport. Danieley was also well known for creating a supportive, well rounded athletic program. Academically, Danieley made the College Board’s SAT test a requirement for admission. He also expanded the library, built seven new buildings on campus and admitted Elon’s first black students. In 1972 he completed a 3 million dollar fund drive, and implemented Elon’s 4-1-4 semester system which still runs today. Danieley left the presidency post in 1973 to return to his roots as a chemistry teacher at Elon. Danieley says, “I quit being president after 16 years for primarily three reasons. One, I had accomplished basically what I has set out to do and number two, I was tired, and number three, I wanted to teach." In 1987, Danieley reduced his teaching hours to serve as Elon’s director of planned giving in the development office, which he served until 1992. Today, Danieley remains an active faculty member of the Elon University community.
Awards
Danieley has been the Thomas E. Powell Jr. Professor of Chemistry since 1982. Danieley was elected to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors in 1983 and served for 12 years. In 1992, Danieley was named president emeritus and remains only one of two presidents in Elon’s history along with Leon Edgar Smith (1931–1957) to have received that honor.Traditions
In 2005, at a men’s home basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
game, with 10 minutes remaining in the game, all the students began chanting, “Dr. Danieley.” The first time he acknowledged the crowd by standing and waving but the second time he brought a towel just in case they were to chant his name again. So now it has become a tradition of Elon home men’s basketball games to chant his name with Dr. Danieley waving a white towel with around 10 minutes to go in the game.