Dr. Harold Mcdaniel

DR. HAROLD EDWARD MCDANIEL passed away quietly on Monday, May 8, 2023, after a long illness. He was blessed with ninety-six years of life. Harold was born on Sunday, March 27, 1927, to the late Dewey McDaniel and the late Clara Bailey McDaniel. Until the age of four, Harold lived with his family in Detroit, Michigan. Thereafter, the family moved to Georgia, outside of Atlanta. During his pre-adolescent years, Harold spent summers and holidays with two of his favorite relatives, Uncle Sargent and Aunt Effie, in their Dayton, Ohio home. At age fourteen, Harold went to live full-time with his aunt and uncle. He finished high school in Dayton. Upon completing high school in 1944, Harold was drafted into the United States Army, where he served in Germany during the waning days of World War II. While there, he became fluent in German.

After honorably serving his country, Harold returned to Ohio where he enrolled in The Ohio State University. While at Ohio State, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree as well as his Doctorate of Dental Surgery. Harold was one of the few African Americans to earn a Doctorate degree at a majority white institution during the 1950’s. It was also in Columbus, Ohio, where Harold met the love of his life, Shirley Stewart. They were married in 1954, and in 1957, were blessed with twin daughters, Annette and Jeanette. Sadly, due to complications from a second pregnancy, Shirley passed in 1963, leaving Harold to raise their twin daughters alone.

Harold was a trailblazer. He strived for excellence both personally and professionally. In the early 1960’s, as a young dentist, Harold, along with several other Black physicians, began discussing and later began planning to build a medical center that would serve the Black community. In 1962, they designed and built the Franklin Park Medical Center, which was one of Columbus’ first Black multi-specialty medical practices. Moreover, ever the champion for equality and civil rights, Harold had the privilege of attending the Dr. Martin Luther King March on Washington in 1963.

Harold was instrumental in crafting the policies and regulations which later became the State of Ohio’s Medicaid Dental Program. The program, launched in 1965, helped ensure that all of Ohio’s residents, regardless of socio-economic status, received quality and appropriate dental care. Dr. McDaniel actively worked as a Dental Consultant for the State of Ohio for fifty-three years, until he retired in 2018, at the age of ninety-one.

Harold was a religious, faithful, God-fearing man. He was a proud and active member of Second Baptist Church, where he served as an usher, on the Trustee Board, and taught Sunday School.

Harold was a talker. He was the consummate expert in current affairs, sports, and politics. He especially loved everything to do with the Ohio State “Buckeyes.” In 2010, The Ohio State University’s School of Dentistry honored Dr. McDaniel with a Distinguished Alumni Award. In his free time, Harold loved to travel. He was also an avid tennis and golf player. He regularly participated in both sports into his eighties.

Harold lived an amazing life and leaves a legacy that inspires us all. He is survived by two daughters, Dr. Jeanette McDaniel and Dr. Annette McDaniel-Turner (Michael); two sisters, Thelma Ruth Long and Earnestine McDaniel; three brothers, Thomas McDaniel, Willie McDaniel, and Caesar Rae McDaniel; four devoted grandchildren, Jillian Downing, Adam Downing, Jarred Turner, and Alexander Turner; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other family members, and dear friends.