Thomas McDaniel

Obituary of Thomas McDaniel Former Lake County educator, Thomas Fredrick "Coach Mac" McDaniel, 88, died Sunday, September 5, 2010. Born in The Rock, GA, Fred graduated from Tech High in Atlanta before serving in the US Air Force as a B-17 navigator during WWII. Fred received his bachelor's degree from Auburn University and secured his first master's in physical education from Syracuse University as well as a second master's in administration from Stetson University. After teaching in Hamilton County Florida for three years, he moved to Webster where he taught and coached for two years before moving to Leesburg in 1954. He taught, coached, and worked as an administrator for 26 years at Leesburg High School until his retirement in 1980. Mr. McDaniel was a deacon, choir member, and Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church Leesburg; member and past president of the noon Kiwanis Club; and was awarded a lifetime membership in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association. Coach Mac is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eleanor; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Leland (Charlotte) Roberts, Leesburg, FL; 6 children: Carol (Graham) Selick, Athens, GA; Phyllis (Ron) Anderson, Leesburg, FL; Roberta (Sans) Lassiter, Ormond Beach, FL; Charlie (Teri) McDaniel; Tom (Sharon) McDaniel both of Fruitland Park, FL; and Stephen (Tina) McDaniel, Suwanee, GA; 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. In a continuing commitment to education, Mr. McDaniel has donated his remains to the Florida Anatomical Society at Shands Teaching Hospital, Gainesville, FL. Memorial services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 18, 2010, at the First Baptist Church, Leesburg, with Rev. Ron Anderson and Rev. Cliff Lea officiating. For those who wish, memorials may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 601 Casa Bella, The Villages, FL 32162 or American Diabetes Association, 1701 N. Beauregard Foundation, Alexandria, VA 22331 or National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018. Online condolences may be left at beyersfuneralhome.com. Arrangements entrusted to Beyers Funeral Home and Crematory, Leesburg, FL.