[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E710]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO DONALD C. ``DANNY'' DANIELSON

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. TODD ROKITA

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 14, 2015

  Mr. ROKITA. Mr. Speaker, as you know the words spoken on the Floor of 
this House in many ways become the official record of our great Nation, 
as each word spoken here is made part of the official House Record.
  As such, I rise today to honor a great American, philanthropist, my 
Sigma Chi brother and good friend, Donald Danielson. Danny was widely 
known for his nearly 40-year career at City Securities, one of 
Indianapolis' oldest investment firms. He was the former president of 
New Castle-based Modernfold, the company whose accordion-fold door 
helped change the way businesses, schools and churches utilized 
interior space.
  As a Sigma Chi, Danny was devoted to the ideals of the White Cross we 
wear. To all he came to know, his friendship was enduring; his 
generosities were large; and his life was an inspiration. He loved his 
Fraternity, but he knew that its helpfulness and sympathies were meant 
to broaden more than the bounds of an organization. To that end, his 
loyalty was grounded in the faith that fraternalism stands for better 
citizenship, for a more noble civilization, and for the higher ideals 
of life in its service to man and reverence to God. And in that, Mr. 
Speaker, we have found in Mr. Danielson not only the ideals of Sigma 
Chi, but the essence of America.
  He was accepted to Indiana University on a baseball scholarship, 
graduated and became one of the longest-serving trustees on record at 
the University, serving as its president for 11 of his 22 years of 
service. He helped create IU's Wells Scholar program and in 1994 was 
awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree.
  After graduation, Danny served his Country in the U.S. Navy in both 
the Pacific and Atlantic theaters of World War II being discharged in 
1946 with a rank of Lieutenant. He married his wife Patricia in 1947 
and though being signed to play professional baseball by the Brooklyn 
Dodgers, decided to take a job at the IU Alumni Association instead.
  In 2009, Danielson received the Sachem award, the highest honor given 
by the state of Indiana. He received several Sagamore of the Wabash 
awards from Indiana Governors, and in 2014, the Indiana Historical 
Society named him a Living Legend. He was inducted into the Junior 
Achievement of Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame in 2010, and was 
appointed by President George H.W. Bush to the Credit Standards 
Advisory Committee.
  Preceded in death by his beloved wife Patti, Danny leaves three 
daughters, Mary, Susie and Amy, eight cherished grandchildren and 13 
great-grandchildren. On behalf of many Hoosiers, I offer to all of 
them, their extended families, and all those who share the grief of his 
loss, my sincerest condolences.

                          ____________________