Success followed Jack Daniels at every venue.
It began in the Boys Baseball Program and continued at St. Matthew High, Flint Junior College and Central Michigan University. When his playing days ended, he became a coach and educator. He retired from education three years ago after 42 years but still is active as a coach for Powers Catholic’s freshmen.
“Friendships and association with young people are what it’s all about. You can’t beat athletics for accumulating lifelong friendships,” said Daniels, 68, who join his former coach and four former teammates tonight when he is inducted into the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame.
“Being considered in the same category as those people who have been inducted previously is special for someone who grew up in a Class C school,” he said. “I would have considered myself lucky if I just sat on the bench with some of those Class A individuals.”
Daniels did considerably more than sit. He earned 11 letters in three sports, missing only his freshman year in basketball where he played on the junior varsity until joining the varsity for the final four games. He was a regular in basketball for two years at Flint JC, helping win two championships, and was a letter man in 1957 for Central Michigan’s undefeated championship football team.
He joins the late Ed Krupa, his coach at St. Matthew, JC teammates Joe Roberson, Stan Gooch and Larry Mancour, and Central Michigan teammate Jim Podoley in the Hall of Fame. He was named to All-City Parochial League teams seven times in football and basketball, five times on the first team and four times a unanimous selection. No all-league teams were chosen in baseball.
He was named to the football second team as a freshman tackle despite playing for a team, which managed only a tie in eight games. He also was a tackle in 1951 when he made the first team, then switched to running back for his final two years. In 1952 and 1953 he was named the CPL’s most valuable football player. He was named to the 1953 all-city team, one of only two players other than those from Central and Northern.
He scored a CPL career record 137 points, twice leading the league. He climaxed a sterling grid career by scoring three touchdowns in a 2-0 victory over arch-rival St. Michael before 3,800 fans at Atwood Stadium, the most points scored by the Panthers in that series.
He was the first basketball player at any Flint school to score more than 400 points, totaling 405 in 1953 when he scored 20 or more in 14 of 18 games. He followed with 387 points as a senior for a career total of 987 for the regular season, 1,121 including post-season tournaments, and was All-State in 1954.
He finished his regular-season career by scoring 40 points in an 8-65 victory over St. Michael to break his previous CPL record of 36. Despite starring in three sports, his mindset was on football and envisioned a professional career. He was contacted by Michigan, Michigan State and Indiana but opted for junior college to improve his grades. He was ticketed for MSU after his freshman year but plans were changed by marriage to Maxine, his wife of 46 years.
Children Theresa, Karen, Ridhard, Susan and John followed and there are 12 grandchildren. “I have no regrets,” he said. “I wouldn’t change a thing.” He coached or taught at Sacred Heart, Holy Redeemer, Mt. Morris St. Mary, Powers and Holy Rosary and spent 13 years in the Flint school system. He coached football and basketball at Mt. Morris St. Mary and was athletic director at Holy Rosary where he also was principal. He retired as principal at Mt. Morris St. Mary, which named its sports complex Jack Daniels Field last year.
“I have loved every minute,” he said. “People I’ve met have made it all worthwhile.”
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