Charlie Daniels, a longtime state official whose career in public service included terms as Arkansas state land commissioner, state auditor and secretary of state, died Sunday.
Marsha Herbert, Daniels’ daughter, confirmed that her father died peacefully Sunday afternoon. He was 83 years old.
Daniels’ cause of death has not been released, Herbert said when reached by phone.
“He will be missed by many,” she said. “He was a wonderful servant for the state of Arkansas, but also a wonderful family man.”
Daniels, a Democrat who grew up in El Dorado, was first elected to the Parkers Chapel Board of Education in 1972. Two years later, he was appointed director of the Arkansas Department of Labor by former Gov. David Pryor. Daniels went on to lead the department under former Gov. Bill Clinton. He also served as director of government affairs for the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation, according to the Arkansas Encyclopedia.
Daniels was elected state land commissioner in 1984. He served in that position until 2003, winning election five times. In 2002, he defeated then-first lady Janet Huckabee in a race for secretary of state and was re-elected to the position four years later. In 2010, Daniels was elected state auditor.
Daniels served in the US Air Force after graduating from high school. He attended Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.
