This event, titled A celebration of the Life of James Earl Danieley, a memorial service in honor of President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley, was held on December 4, 2016 in the Elon Alumni Gym. Dr. Danieley was born July 28, 1924 and passed away on November 29, 2016. During the celebration of Dr. Danieley, Dr. Leo Lambert welcomed everyone by stating, “Welcome to this service of thanksgiving and the celebration of the life of Dr. J. Earl Danieley. We gather together to honor a giant of a man. Faithful to God, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and a great teacher and educator. A citizen who gave back to his community, his state, and his country and a compassionate and loving friend to thousands of people. He was a man with huge hands, which he used to steer Elon’s course as its sixth president and attend to his roses. And he even had a bigger heart filled with love that he shared so unselfishly with all of us. 00:01:12 It is so very hard to loose people who we truly love and cherish. I know it is especially hard for young people. 00:01:25 When my sister, Louise, passed away a couple of years ago, Father John, our Roman Catholic Chaplain at the time, wrote me a note that comforted me. He said, ‘you now have another intercessor in heaven. And goodness knows, I could use every single one.’ Now this is how I think of Dr. D. now. He has assuredly joined the company of heavenly saints. (Dr. Lambert points his finger up to the sky) That great College Coffee up there. 00:02:00 I believe our love for him, our treasured times with him, our abiding and deep affection transcends death. He is still cheering for us. While we will miss his physical presence dearly, he will continue to inspire us, as long as we hold his memory in our hearts. 00:02:26 Earl Danieley was present on our campus for so long and I am not sure everyone here can fully appreciate the transformations that he witnessed during his 74 years: a student, professor, dean, and president. 00:02:46 When Earl graduated from Elon in 1946, the college had produced an exact total of 1,600 graduates in its 57 year history. In 2016 alone, we have awarded 1,671 degrees. 00:03:09 When Earl assumed the presidency in 1956, the college was held together by scotch tape and prayers. The fact that it had survived a fire, the depression, and the low enrollments of the World Wars was in itself a miracle. Earl’s joy and delight in later witnessing a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, launching the School of Law, the intellectual accomplishments of the faculty, staff, the growth of the modern campus at physical plant, and so much more was deep and profound. He embraced change and improvement. 00:04:00 He celebrated Elon’s growth as an innovative institution of higher education. Too put it simply, Earl Danieley made the Elon of today, possible. 00:04:12 But most of all, he was proud of our students and our graduates.” Lambert highlighted a graduate of the year. Lambert mentioned past faculty members. Lambert stated, “Elon has produced forty thousand alumni, since Danieley graduated. His impact on this world is deep and profound. Earl understood this was the most important measure of a university and took absolute delight in celebrating the success of our students and alumni. 00:06:00 And with his amazing memory, he could recall the names of everyone that he ever met. 00:06:10 All of us have Dr. Danieley stories that we hold dear. But instead of sharing stories today, I want to focus on just two words that I believe were the essence of his life: integrity and love. 00:06:30 Earl was a man of impeccable character. His word was his bond. He was an authentic original. His Christian faith was the bedrock of his life. Earl Danieley practiced integrity every day of his long life. And love, he loved God, Earl adored Verona, and his children, Ned, Mark, and Jane and his wonderful grandchildren. He loved his colleagues. He loved all of his family. He loved Elon. And he loved students. Earl would point out students on campus and tell me – ‘she is my hugging friend or he is my hugging friend.’ By this, he meant that he knew you well enough to greet you, not only with a warm smile, but also, with a big hug or to place your hand in his huge hand for an extended period. He loved hundreds. If there is an Earl Danieley tradition that we can carry on at Elon, I hope it is hugging friends. 00:07:58 We humans thrive on hugs and Earl never spared his love. Let’s keep his love alive by continuing to share it with each other. 00:08:13 Rest in Peace, cherished friend.” Lambert asked the memorial guests to join him in repeating these three words that we all love, “Long Live Elon.” 00:08:38 Jan Fuller, University Chaplain, said the Innovation for J. Earl Danieley. 00:10:07 An unknown woman walked to the podium and led the guests in the singing of “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” 00:13:05 Jo Watts Williams read a letter from the Bible. An unknown man read a reading from the verse in the chapter of Matthew. 00:15:30 A tribute to Dr. J. Earl Danieley from Elon’s trustee, Noel Allen, Class of 1969. He stated that Dr. Danieley convinced him to attend Elon. He said that, as a student, he was invited by President Danieley to take part in a long-range planning retreat in the mountains of North Carolina. "It was amazing," Allen told the crowd. "He led us through a new way of looking at Elon. He even cooked breakfast for us. Here was a man who, through the sixth grade, walked to school every day to a two-room schoolhouse ... yet he was engaging the whole Elon family in a visionary exercise about this place we all love. Danieley has become as much of the background of Elon as the sound of the train rumbling through town or the university's bells ringing from on high.” Allen said, "We shall all miss his smile, his wit, his passion for this place, his roses, and his birthday cards. Like the sound of that train, and the college bell, his love of this place will echo in this grove of oaks long after we bid farewell, to Dr. James Earl Danieley." 00:21:47 Dr. John Sullivan spoke next. He said that Dr. Danieley took a risk in hiring him. Sullivan was most grateful. “I think of Danieley as a good and faithful servant, who is now at peace,” Sullivan stated. “May his soul and the souls of the faithful departed, mercy of God, and rest in peace. His love for Elon was legendary, his bond with students over generations unprecedented, and we who benefitted greatly for knowing him are poorer. You were indeed a good and faithful servant, Earl. Enter now into the greater life. I shall count you always as my friend. And in the end, beyond the unfinished conversations, are the three last words; thank you, forgive me, and I love you.” 00:23:08 Adam Constantine spoke next. He stated, “When I was first asked to speak, I was honored, humbled, until I only heard that I had four minutes (laughter). I am not sure how you honor a man with a 92 year old life in just four minutes. Then I remembered Dr. Danieley’s speaking too. 00:23:33 Stand up, speak up, and shut up. I met Dr. Danieley right across the street for the basketball team that stood by the Elon Community Church. I am going to miss a lot. I think what I will miss the most is the moment he would recognize me, anywhere. I remember the first time it happened. I came back to Elon right after my professional basketball season ended in Sweden. I did not see him for five months. Due to the cold (weather), I replaced my clean face with a beard. As soon as he saw me, his eyes lit up. He stretched out his arms and he gave me a big hug. He held me by the shoulders and looked me up and down and he said, ‘boy that beard makes you look ugly.’ I would so look forward to those moments over the next five years. Every time I would come back, he would not only introduce me to others, but also give them the full rundown of where I played (basketball). When I finally retired from basketball, I was ecstatic to start working here at Elon. However, I wondered if the magic would be gone. If his eye would dull if he recognized me. And his hugs would go softer over time. The extract opposite happened. Week after week, the excitement remained at the games, special events, and it became our tradition. His sister later told me, ‘You know Earl said, Adam is interviewing for a job here. I really hope he gets it’ (Which is the best recommendation you can have when applying for an Elon job). I remember when he moved to Brookwood (The Village at Brookwood), I told him that I was going to visit him. Three people came up to me and said, ‘Dr. Danieley is really excited about your visits.’ There was a time that I was asked to speak at a Numen Lumen series called, ‘The company we keep.’ Sure enough, there was Dr. Danieley. I went up to him afterwards. He said, ‘You know, I normally do not come to these and I saw that you were speaking and I had to be there.’ I spoke to his daughter, Jane, sometime later, and she said, ‘You know, he really loves you.’ Dr. Danieley was a special man to me. He was also so genuine with everyone. 00:26:55 The final time that I saw him was during a night where volleyball was playing before the men’s basketball team. I sat next to him, one to talk and also I was massively scared the ball was going to come his way. 00:27:12 When I had to step away for a minute, I asked Kenneth Brown to take my spot. I introduced them and took my leave. 00:27:19 Last night, I learned that Jane told Dr. Danieley what I had done and why. He said, ‘That was awful nice. But I really enjoyed talking with him, too.’ It was that authenticity that he showed everyone that I will remember forever. 00:27:41 I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Danieley earlier this summer (in Belk Library – University Archives). We talked about everything from his birth, his time at Elon, to the present day (needless to say, we were there for a while). My final question was a simple one, ‘What do you want people to remember about you and the Danieley legacy?’ His answer was this, ‘I want everyone to believe that here was an honest man and that he always did his best.’ Simple words to describe an impactful legacy. 00:28:23 While I have many more memories and so much more that I could say about Dr. Danieley’s impact on me and everyone he touched, let me conclude by saying this truth about my friend. He was an honest man and he always did his best.” 00:28:58 The Alma Mater was sung. 00:31:52 Richard McBride, Emeritus Chaplain, spoke on Dr. D., as he was known to all. 00:37:30 Earth and All Stars was sung as the final hymn. 00:42:35 Fuller read the benediction. On the platform stage was a photo of Dr. J. Earl Danieley. In addition, Dr. James Earl Danieley’s funeral service took place before the Elon Alumni Gym Memorial service on December 3, 2016 at the Elon Community Church. His interment is at the Magnolia Cemetery, Elon, North Carolina. The Officiating was conducted by Reverend Randy Orwig. The Pallbearers were Wes Brewer, Roger Dugas, Adam Constantine, Evan Rey, Josh Bonney, and Sam Hershberger. His children included: Ned Daniels Danieley and wife, Linda; Mark Samuel Danieley and wife, Heidi; and Jane Elizabeth Danieley Shutt and husband, Mark. His grandchildren included: Sean Pifer and fiancée, Erica; Jason Pifer and wife, Linda; Robert Danieley and wife, Hope; Sara Danieley; Danieley Shutt; Jonathan Shutt; and Michael Shutt. His sister included: Faye Danieley Conally and husband, Tom. Family members who preceded Dr. J. Earl Danieley were: Verona Daniels Danieley, wife; Henry H. and Grace Mansfield Danieley, parents; Frances Danieley Wood, sister; and Henry Howard Danieley, brother.