The University of North Carolina Wilmington mourns the loss of community servant and devoted Board of Trustees member Windell Daniels.
The president of United National Tours and Daniels Development Company and the interim director of the Wilmington Housing Authority, Daniels was appointed by the UNC Board of Governors to the UNC Wilmington Board of Trustees in 2007. The Wilmington resident served as a member of the External Affairs and Educational Planning and Programs committees.
UNCW Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo said, "The UNCW community is deeply saddened by the loss of Windell Daniels, a dedicated trustee and true friend of the university. We send sincere condolences to his wonderful family and many friends."
Daniels retired in 1985 from Koch Fuel, where he was plant manager. He earned an associate's degree in general occupation social technology from Cape Fear Community College in 1980. Committed to positively impacting his community, Daniels diligently served as a leader of numerous community service initiatives.
Daniels served as co-chairman of the City of Wilmington's 10-Year Homeless Plan and chaired Housing Economics Opportunities, Inc. He was a past president of the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Wilmington Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, a member of the board of the Cape Fear Bank and member of the UNCW Foundation Board (2004-07) and the Cape Fear Community College Foundation Board. He sponsored UNCW's annual Youth Entrepreneurship Program with the Cameron School of Business and the Upperman African American Cultural Center.
A 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason, Daniels was a trustee at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church and a member of the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame Committee. Among his service projects, Daniels purchased the historic 1904 William Hooper School and converted it into housing for senior citizens.
DePaolo said, "Windell Daniels will be remembered as a determined and successful businessman and leader who gave so much to our community."
Media contact:
Joy Davis, Marketing and Communications, 910.962.3631 or davisjc@uncw.edu
