Background
Charlie Daniels was born in the Union County, Arkansas community of Parker"s Chapel, and grew up in El Dorado, Arkansas.
Charlie Daniels was born in the Union County, Arkansas community of Parker"s Chapel, and grew up in El Dorado, Arkansas.
Attended, South Arkansas University. Attended, University Arkansas, Little Rock. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Shorter College, North Little Rock.
He was the State Auditor of Arkansas from 2011 to 2015 and previously served as Arkansas Secretary of State, and as Commissioner of State Lands. He served in the United States Air Force and the Air Force Reserves. From 1974 to 1980, he served as Director of the Arkansas Department of Labor in the Cabinet of Governor David Pryor until 1979, and was retained in that post for a year under Governor Bill Clinton.
He served as director of government affairs for the Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation from 1980 to 1984.
In 1984, he was elected as Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands, and was subsequently re-elected to four-year terms in 1986, 1990, 1994, and 1998. He was elected as the 32nd Arkansas Secretary of State in 2002, defeating the Republican Party nominee, Janet Huckabee, the wife of then-Governor Mike Huckabee, and was re-elected in 2006.
In 2010 he ran for State Auditor, opposed only by Green Party candidate Mary Hughes-Willis. Daniels announced in 2013 that he would not seek re-election in the 2014 elections.
Hoping to succeed him were Republican State Representative Andrea Lea, Democrat Regina Stewart Hampton and Libertarian Brian Leach.
Member Parker's Chapel School Board, 1972—1974. Member of National Association Secretaries of State, Western States Land Commissioners Association.
Married Patricia Ann Burleson (deceased). Children: Marsha, Chuck.