Judge C. Welborn Daniel

1926 - 2016

Daniel, Judge Judge C. Welborn Daniel of Leesburg, Florida completed his long goodbye on Wednesday, August 10, 2016. Born in Okeechobee, Florida on June 12, 1926 he was a part of America's Greatest Generation. He was inspired to join the U.S. Navy at the young age of 16 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and served 4 years in the Armed Guard during World War II. After his service he returned to Leesburg to complete his high school education in record time in one of the first Adult Education Programs. He went on to attend the University of Florida where he received both his undergraduate degree and his Juris Doctorate of Law. After graduation he returned to Leesburg where he started practicing law and serving as a small claims court judge. His skill and knowledge of the law brought him to the attention of attorney Tom Cork who offered him a partnership in his Clermont law firm later known as Cork and Daniel. He was a member of the Florida Bar Association and twice President of the Lake County Bar Association. In 1956 he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives and he was re-elected for four consecutive terms during which he was recognized as one of the ten most valuable members. He went on to be elected twice to the Florida Senate and was recognized by his peers as the most effective freshman Senator in the 1965 Florida legislative session. He was appointed to the Fifth Circuit Court in Tavares where he was re-elected and served for the next eleven years. During that time, he served as the Secretary-Treasurer, Chairman Elect, and Chairman of the Judicial Administrative Commission. He also served on the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the Florida Court Education Council, the Judicial Arbitration Study Commission, the Study Commission of Alternative Dispute Resolution, the Study Commission on the Florida Trial Court System and the Mediation and Arbitration Commission, He was one of two Florida judges chosen to represent the nation's judiciary at the National Conference of Judiciary on the Rights of Victims of Crime. His experience on the Circuit Court bench prepared him for his appointment to the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Daytona where he served as a Judge and later Chief Judge from 1988 until 1990. After his retirement he went on to be certified by the Supreme Court as a Circuit Civil Mediator for which he was highly sought after to serve as a mediator in multiple complex matters until his third and final try at retirement at age 80. Being a graduate of the University of Florida he was a loyal Gator fan throughout his lifetime and guarded particular stadium seats in the Swamp that are still in the family today. Service organizations included the Leesburg Jaycees where he served as President, the Florida Jaycees where he served as Vice President and was also an active member of the Elks, Moose, American Legion and VFW. Judge Daniel is survived by his wife of 46 years Carol Sue, daughter Lynn (Tony) Morris, Son Clay (Jenifer) Daniel and daughter in law Terri (Scot) Thomas. He was blessed with two granddaughters Jamie (Delmar) Johnson and Kathryn (Adam) Shores and three great grandchildren Max, Cooper and Hadley. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial contributions to Cornerstone Hospice of Tavares or to the Lake Sumter State College Foundation in Leesburg. Arrangements have been entrusted to Beyer's Funeral Home and Crematorium in Leesburg. Condolences can be left at www.beyersfuneralhome.com A service to celebrate Judge Daniel's life will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Tavares on Tuesday, August 16th at 11:00 am to be followed by a lunch reception and family visitation at the church's activity center.