Born in Greeley, Colorado in 1920, Bill Daniels lived in Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa as a child. The family moved to Hobbs, New Mexico, and he attended the New Mexico Military Institute in nearby Roswell.As a young man, he was an undefeated Golden Gloves Champion of New Mexico.
In World War II and the Korean conflict, Bill was a naval fighter pilot who retired as Full Commander in the U.S. Navy. After the Navy, He started his first cable business in Casper, Wyoming in 1953.
As one of the pioneers in cable television, Bill went on to own and operate hundreds of cable TV systems and founded, Daniels & Associates (now RBC Daniels), a cable brokerage firm. His leadership helped bring numerous hi-tech and communications companies to the Front Range.
While Bill was widely known and respected for his leadership role in the sports and cable industries, he became equally respected for his humanitarian endeavors. Bill long believed that people fortunate enough to succeed have a responsibility to help others who may not have had the same advantages. As a result, over the years he made countless charitable contributions and gave back to the community in some highly creative and meaningful ways.
Honoring the percentages for giving established by Bill Daniels, each year approximately 70% of charitable allocations are made through the Daniels Fund Grants Program.
Bill Daniels directed that approximately 30% of charitable allocations be made through the Daniels Fund Scholarship Program, which consists of the Daniels Scholarship and the Daniels Opportunity Scholarship. Daniels Opportunity Scholarships support non-traditional students including adults entering or returning to college; students from alternative schools, juvenile justice facilities, and youth offender programs; GED recipients; former foster care youth, returning military, and emergency service providers.
When he passed away in 2000, his estate transferred to the Daniels Fund, making it one of the largest foundations in the Rocky Mountain Region. The Daniels Fund is dedicated to honoring his legacy of “making life better... one person at a time.”
