The "Greatest Oak" Gone

Elon students past and present know his name and so his legacy will live on forever. Elon Universities 6th President, Dr. J Earl Danieley, died early Tuesday morning. Elon students were informed of his death by email from President Leo Lambert who reassured students that his passing was peaceful.

Born in Alamance County, and a graduate of Elon College, Dr. Danieley quite literally had his roots at Elon. In his obituary article on the official Elon news site Dr. Danieley's life was remembered. After graduating from high school in Burlington, Danieley enrolled at Elon University where he majored in chemistry and earned his degree in 1946. With this degree he decided to stay at Elon and share with others, his love of learning.

His passion for education was clear to those he interacted with, and according to the E Net! article Dr. Danieley loved seeing students succeed.

“I enjoy sharing knowledge and encouraging students to study,” said Danieley. “If you can start with a student as a freshman who is uncertain and not really committed and watch that person become excited about learning, that is really satisfying.”

All Elon students know of Dr. Danieley and the legacy he has left on campus. Even those who were never given the opportunity to get to know him, like Junior PJ Collins.

"His story is inspiring," says Collins. "Going from an Elon student to a professor to the President and he has now left the ultimate legacy on campus as a great leader.

Others felt a stronger connection to Danieley. Kailey Tracy is a senior reporter for Elon News Network and over her four years has had a few opportunities to get to know Dr. D, personally.

"Every time he talked to you, he made you feel like number one, he remembered you, his mind was so sharp," says Tracy. He was genuine and I think that is why so many people connected with him. He built what Elon is today.

In addition to being a well known academic figure on campus, Danieley, to some, was the face of Elon Athletics. At every basketball game since 2005 Elon students would chant his name during the last time-out of the final quarter. The reason for this tradition is still unknown according to an article from Elon News Network published earlier this afternoon.

During his time as president, Dr. Danieley saw Elon's campus expand with the addition of many major buildings including Powell, Long, the McEwen Library, Jordan Gym, Beck Pool, and some residence halls.

Aside from the impact he has made on Elon's campus, he also left his mark on the state of North Carolina as well. Serving on a variety of boards including the Burlington-Alamance County Chamber of Commerce, Alamance County Hospital, and the Bank of Burlington, he also was president of the Burlington Rotary Club and the United Fund of Alamance County.

In the aftermath of his death, Elon students and the community will remember Dr. Danieley in a variety of ways. As a mentor, a colleague, a friend, and as President Leo Lambert tweeted Elon's greatest Oak.