Bill Daniels Timeline
Click the plus signs below for details about important milestones in Bill's extraordinary life.
Bill runs for governor of Colorado, but loses in the Republican Party primary.
Bill brings Utah its first professional sports team, the Utah Stars, which win the American Basketball Association championship in 1971. The team was forced into bankruptcy in 1975 as the league unraveled. Although Bill’s financial obligations were legally discharged, he returned to Salt Lake City five years later and repaid every season ticket holder, vendor, player, and employee – with 8% interest.
Bill continues to build his business through struggles and successes, ultimately owning hundreds of cable systems and brokering deals that shape the industry.
Bill founds Daniels & Associates to operate cable systems and provide financial advisory services to cable operators.
Bill Daniels opens his first cable television system on January 1, 1954 in Casper, Wyoming.
Bill Daniels sees television for the first time in Denver.
Bill returns to the U.S. Navy as a pilot in the Korean Conflict. He is instrumental in training Navy pilots during their transition to jet aircraft. He was a highly decorated commander by the end of his service.
Bill makes repeated trips into burning wreckage to rescue wounded shipmates after a devastating enemy attack on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. He is awarded the Bronze Star for “heroism, courage, and devotion to duty”
Bill Daniels enters World War II as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot.
Bill becomes a two-time New Mexico Golden Gloves Boxing champion.
Bill's parents enroll him in New Mexico Military Institute. He enters the school an unruly teen and emerges as a young leader with an understanding of the value of discipline.
Bill Daniels is born on July 1, 1920 in Greeley, Colorado.
The Daniels Fund marks its 20th anniversary and what would have been Bill's 100th birthday. In its first 20 years, the Daniels Fund has distributed more than $877.6 million in grants and scholarships.
Bill Daniels passes away on March 7, 2000. He leaves $1.1 billion to the Daniels Fund to carry on his legacy of generosity. The Daniels Fund awards its first grants and scholarships that year.
Bill Daniels begins planning for his legacy, the Daniels Fund.
Bill and his crew set a new round-the-world speed record for a business class jet, with Bill's plane, Cablevision Tool.
The University of Denver renames the Daniels College of Business in Bill's honor.
Bill helps bring the Grand Prix in 1990 and 1991. Although he lost $6 million the first year, he supported a second year at $4 million so vendors and investors, including the City and County of Denver and the State of Colorado, could recover their investments.
Bill makes his first of two major donations to the University of Denver, totalling $21 million, to incorporate ethics into the business cirriculum.
Bill sells the majority of his cable operating systems to United Artists, allowing him to focus on the advisory and sports programming businesses.
Bill Daniels launches Young Americans Bank, the world's only bank exclusively for kids, to help teach young people financial literacy.
Bill Launches one of the nation's first regional sports networks, Prime Ticket Network, to broadcast L.A. Lakers and Kings games. With this deal, he becomes part owner of the Lakers.
Bill enters rehab at the Betty Ford Center after struggling with alcoholism much of his life. He was able to maintain sobriety, and talked openly about his battle with addiction, encouraged (and paying for) others to seek treatment. His experience inspired him to direct the Daniels Fund to support organizations that help people suffering from addiction.
Bill becomes one of the founding owners of the United States Football League, launching the LA Express as co-owner.
Bill helps Ted Turner raise money to launch CNN and becomes the second largest shareholder in Turner Broadcasting Systems.
Bill Daniels Timeline
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1920
Bill Daniels is born on July 1, 1920 in Greeley, Colorado.
1937
Bill's parents enroll him in New Mexico Military Institute. He enters the school an unruly teen and emerges as a young leader with an understanding of the value of discipline.
1939
Bill becomes a two-time New Mexico Golden Gloves Boxing champion.
1941
Bill Daniels enters World War II as a U.S. Navy fighter pilot.
1944
Bill makes repeated trips into burning wreckage to rescue wounded shipmates after a devastating enemy attack on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. He is awarded the Bronze Star for “heroism, courage, and devotion to duty”
1950
Bill returns to the U.S. Navy as a pilot in the Korean Conflict. He is instrumental in training Navy pilots during their transition to jet aircraft. He was a highly decorated commander by the end of his service.
1952
Bill Daniels sees television for the first time in Denver.
1954
Bill Daniels opens his first cable television system on January 1, 1954 in Casper, Wyoming.
1958
Bill founds Daniels & Associates to operate cable systems and provide financial advisory services to cable operators.
1960s
Bill continues to build his business through struggles and successes, ultimately owning hundreds of cable systems and brokering deals that shape the industry.
1971
Bill brings Utah its first professional sports team, the Utah Stars, which win the American Basketball Association championship in 1971. The team was forced into bankruptcy in 1975 as the league unraveled. Although Bill’s financial obligations were legally discharged, he returned to Salt Lake City five years later and repaid every season ticket holder, vendor, player, and employee – with 8% interest.
1974
Bill runs for governor of Colorado, but loses in the Republican Party primary.
1980
Bill helps Ted Turner raise money to launch CNN and becomes the second largest shareholder in Turner Broadcasting Systems.
1982
Bill becomes one of the founding owners of the United States Football League, launching the LA Express as co-owner.
1985
Bill enters rehab at the Betty Ford Center after struggling with alcoholism much of his life. He was able to maintain sobriety, and talked openly about his battle with addiction, encouraged (and paying for) others to seek treatment. His experience inspired him to direct the Daniels Fund to support organizations that help people suffering from addiction.
1985
Bill Launches one of the nation's first regional sports networks, Prime Ticket Network, to broadcast L.A. Lakers and Kings games. With this deal, he becomes part owner of the Lakers.
1987
Bill Daniels launches Young Americans Bank, the world's only bank exclusively for kids, to help teach young people financial literacy.
1988
Bill sells the majority of his cable operating systems to United Artists, allowing him to focus on the advisory and sports programming businesses.
1988
Bill makes his first of two major donations to the University of Denver, totalling $21 million, to incorporate ethics into the business cirriculum.
1990
Bill helps bring the Grand Prix in 1990 and 1991. Although he lost $6 million the first year, he supported a second year at $4 million so vendors and investors, including the City and County of Denver and the State of Colorado, could recover their investments.
1994
The University of Denver renames the Daniels College of Business in Bill's honor.
1996
Bill and his crew set a new round-the-world speed record for a business class jet, with Bill's plane, Cablevision Tool.
1996
Bill Daniels begins planning for his legacy, the Daniels Fund.
2000
Bill Daniels passes away on March 7, 2000. He leaves $1.1 billion to the Daniels Fund to carry on his legacy of generosity. The Daniels Fund awards its first grants and scholarships that year.
The Daniels Fund marks its 20th anniversary and what would have been Bill's 100th birthday. In its first 20 years, the Daniels Fund has distributed more than $877.6 million in grants and scholarships.
Listen to the
Bill Daniels story on
Bill Daniels story on
In celebration of what would have been Bill Daniels' 100th birthday, we have partnered with Our American Stories to tell Bill Daniels' story. The result is a captivating 40-minute radio program and podcast featuring Bill telling his story in his own words.
Our American Stories is a storytelling radio program with 2.45 million weekly listeners on 226 radio affiliates across the country. Bill Daniels' story will air multiple times throughout the year and is also available on major podcast platforms.
Our American Stories is a storytelling radio program with 2.45 million weekly listeners on 226 radio affiliates across the country. Bill Daniels' story will air multiple times throughout the year and is also available on major podcast platforms.
Listen to the
Bill Daniels story on
Bill Daniels story on
Our American Stories is a storytelling radio program with 2.45 million weekly listeners on 226 radio affiliates across the country. Bill Daniels' story will air multiple times throughout the year and is also available on major podcast platforms.
Listen to the
Bill Daniels story on
Bill Daniels story on
Our American Stories is a storytelling radio program with 2.45 million weekly listeners on 226 radio affiliates across the country. Bill Daniels' story will air multiple times throughout the year and is also available on major podcast platforms.
Listen to the
Bill Daniels story on
Bill Daniels story on
In celebration of what would have been Bill Daniels' 100th birthday, we have partnered with Our American Stories to tell Bill Daniels' story. The result is a captivating 40-minute radio program and podcast featuring Bill telling his story in his own words.
Our American Stories is a storytelling radio program with 2.45 million weekly listeners on 226 radio affiliates across the country. Bill Daniels' story will air multiple times throughout the year and is also available on major podcast platforms.
