Thomas Madison McDaniel Jr., former president of Southern California Edison and trustee emeritus at the Huntington Library, died July 10, 2007. He was 91. McDaniel died of pneumonia and respiratory failure at a retirement home in Aliso Viejo, relatives said.
Family members remember McDaniel, known as T.M., as a natural and charismatic leader with an unusually strong sense of integrity.
"He had a sense of moral and ethics that you don't see in the corporate world," said daughter Lynne McDaniel. "He thought that corporate offices made way too much money, and liked to see it spread around a little bit more."
McDaniel was the president of Southern California Edison from 1968 to 1978 before retiring at age 62. He was also active in the community, serving as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Huntington Library from 1977 to 1978. In 1995, he was elected trustee emeritus. He and his wife of 65 years, Clerimond McDaniel, lived just four blocks away from the library for nearly 30 years.
"He really appreciated what they were trying to do, to maintain the collections and make it available to scholars," Lynne McDaniel said. Born in Richmond, California, and reared in South Pasadena, McDaniel graduated from Stanford University and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He was an elected partner of the accounting firm Arthur Andersen & Co. before joining Southern California Edison in 1956.
Despite his years as a top executive, his family said McDaniel remained modest about his accomplishments.
"When people would ask him what his job was, he would say he was a utility executive," Clerimond McDaniel said.
Upon retiring, McDaniel enjoyed playing golf, bridge and dominoes with friends and family.
He is survived by his wife, Clerimond McDaniel; four daughters - Martha McDaniel of Pasadena, Kathleen Newport of Studio City, , Lynne McDaniel of Altadena and Laurie Jewell of Encinitas; and four grandchildren.
Pasadena Star-News, July 13, 2007
