[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 101 (Thursday, June 12, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E563-E564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE LIFE OF DANIEL CLYDE WHEELER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN W. ROSE

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2025

  Mr. ROSE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of a true 
public servant. Daniel Clyde Wheeler passed away just over two months 
ago. Dan Wheeler grew up in the Crab Orchard community in Cumberland 
County, Tennessee, an area I'm proud to represent here in Congress.
  Like myself, Mr. Wheeler grew up on a family farm. That experience 
led him to become a staunch advocate for our state's growers and 
producers. In 1965, he started a long career working for the Tennessee 
Farm Bureau Federation, where he served as an agent for Marion County 
and Sequatchie County. In no time, he was representing an entire region 
encompassing the Cumberland Plateau and the Chattanooga area of 
Tennessee.
  In 1973, Mr. Wheeler became Assistant to the President and Director 
of Organization for Tennessee Farm Bureau. By 1980, he took on the role 
of lobbyist for the Farm Bureau Federation, a role he saw as an 
opportunity to advocate for his fellow farmers across Tennessee and 
across the Nation. He later was named Chief Administrative Officer of 
Tennessee Farm Bureau. His dedication led to him becoming Tennessee's 
32nd Commissioner of Agriculture in January 1995. I was blessed to 
succeed Commissioner Wheeler, who I considered to be a man of great 
knowledge as well as a personal mentor.

[[Page E564]]

  Commissioner Wheeler became a strong voice nationally with regard to 
tax reform. In our state, he fought to keep taxes low. He fought hard 
for our state's tobacco farmers. He formed the first-ever Governor's 
Council on Agriculture and Forestry, an important step that brought key 
stakeholders to the table. That, I suspect, will be his enduring 
legacy, bringing growers and producers into the same room as 
policymakers. That collaboration continues to have a major impact on 
our state's leading industry, agriculture.
  Commissioner Wheeler also served as the Southern United State Trade 
Association President, where he represented 17 states and territories. 
He served on the Tennessee Board for Economic Growth and Tennessee 
Wildlife Resources Commission. The list goes on.
  In 2000, he was named Man of the year in Service to Tennessee 
Agriculture by Progressive Farmer Magazine.
  He helped neighbors outside the agriculture industry as well. He 
served the Maury County United Way, the Columbia Kiwanis Club, the 
Maury Regional Hospital Foundation, and the First Farmers and Merchants 
National Bank of Columbia, Tennessee on their Board of Directors. His 
life is an example of a life well lived, a life dedicated to others, 
and a life that truly made a difference.
  He leaves behind a wife of 59 years, Carol, and two sons, Jim and 
David, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
  I want to thank Commissioner Dan Wheeler and honor him for his many 
contributions to our great state of Tennessee.

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