William J. McDaniel

William J. McDaniel (born 26 February 1943) is a retired rear admiral of the United States Navy. He served in the Medical Corps and was commander of the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth in Portsmouth, Virginia.

Background and education McDaniel was born on a farm near Muskogee, Oklahoma, on February 26, 1943. He grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Blackwell High School in Blackwell, Oklahoma. He attended college at Oklahoma State University, where he was a member of the varsity wrestling team.

Athletics During his Navy career, McDaniel was Navy Wrestling Champion from 1973 through 1977, Interservice Wrestling Champion in 1975 to 1976 and World Silver Medalist in the 1974 CISM Military World Games in Rome, Italy. McDaniel was U.S. Team Physician for the U.S. 1984 Olympic Team, and he continued to be involved in Olympics medical care through 2000. Throughout his navy career, McDaniel continued to wrestle, and wrestling matches between him and fellow staff members were occasionally organized at the medical centers he commanded.

Personal life McDaniel is married to the former Shirley Blair of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Awards McDaniel's military awards include: Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (two awards) Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal Army Commendation Medal Meritorious Unit Commendation National Defense Service Medal (two awards) Humanitarian Service Medal

In addition to his military awards, McDaniel has also been inducted into the Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame, and he served as OSU's 2005 Homecoming Grand Marshall.