Suzanne McDaniel died May 21, 2012 after an eight year battle with pancreatic cancer. Born January 7, 1953 in Houston she was the daughter of Annie Mae Bucy McDaniel and Marion Embree McDaniel.
Following graduation from Southwestern University in Georgetown Suzanne was employed by the Harris County District Attorney's office where she implemented the first prosecutor-based victim assistance program in Texas. She then moved to Austin and while serving under three of our Governors, Suzanne proposed and implemented the first statewide resource and referral office for crime victims and served as Director of the Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse. In 1984 when President Reagan created the President's Task Force on Victims of Crime, Suzanne coordinated field hearings that launched victims'rights as a national concern leading to her serving on the board of the National Organization for Victims Assistance for 10 years. While next employed by the Office of Attorney General, she developed curriculum and provided training for judges, law enforcement, prosecutors, medical service providers, and victim assistance organizations while also acting as coordinator for the Crime Victims' Advisory Council. Suzanne was involved in the passage of numerous legislative reforms including the Texas Crime Victim Bill of Rights, the Texas Crime Victims' Compensation Act and the Texas Constitutional Amendment on Crime Victim Rights. In April, 2008 the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus founded by Congressman Ted Poe to honor individuals and others who truly made a difference for crime victims renamed the award the "Suzanne McDaniel Public Awareness Award" as "a forever honor of her work, dedication, and compassion." In his presentation to the House of Representatives, Congressman Poe who had known her for 25 years referred to Suzanne as "one of the 'Old Buffalos,' which is what we call the first Advocates in the victims' rights field." In 1995 President Bill Clinton presented Suzanne with the Crime Victim Service Award in recognition of her work in guiding victim's through the recovery process. At the time of her death Suzanne was serving as the first victim service director for the Texas District and County Attorneys Association. There she helped train state victim service coordinators.
Suzanne had many other remarkable achievements and honors but as much for these she will be remembered as a very loving and generous person never seeking the spotlight but always nearby when needed. Her brother Marion McDaniel Jr., his wife Mary, her nephew Marion McDaniel III, his wife Valerie and daughter Nathalie and her nephew Mark McDaniel, as well as her extended family and numerous friends will always hold such a memory.
Suzanne's family invite friends to a reception in celebration of her life on Thursday, June 7 from 4-6 at the Westwood Country Club, Austin, Texas.
For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to: The Compensation to Victims of Crime Fund c/o Crime Victims Compensation Program, PO Box 12198, Austin, TX 78711; Texas District and County Attorneys Foundation, 505 West 12th Street, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78701; or MD Anderson Cancer Center c/o Robert Wolff, MD, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 421, Houston, TX 77030.
