‘Holy Moly’: How one SC State grad turned uncertainty into action

Vietnam veteran and former railroad executive Hubert Daniely Jr. is a fervent supporter of his alma mater.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. – When Hubert Daniely Jr. arrived on the campus of what was then South Carolina State College in 1959, he had a flash of the jitters.
 
“When I got to State, I said, ‘Holy moly, what have I got myself into?’” he said. “But I was prepared. My high school prepared me to go anyplace I needed to go, because I was ready.”

That “holy moly” moment — a mix of excitement, anxiety and resolve — would shape the way Daniely faced challenges for decades, from working his way through school to returning years later as an outspoken advocate and supporter.

Deep roots and early challenges

Daniely’s ties to SC State run deep. His relatives were involved in the school’s founding when, under the Second Morrill Act of 1890, the state created a land-grant college for African Americans separate from Claflin’s church-affiliated program. Even so, he became the first Bulldog in his family. Although his father had studied at Felton Training School in the 1920s, a small Rosenwald school on the SC State campus, Daniely was the first to enroll at SC State.

He had attended George Washington Carver High School, which was built during the “separate but equal” era to serve Black students in Orangeburg County. By the time he graduated, he was already a proven leader as student council president, class valedictorian, a multi-sport athlete and even a school bus driver.

But money was always a challenge. Daniely picked up campus jobs and worked summers in New York to save for tuition and expenses. He also worked for Charlie Way Sr., who owned the Edisto Motel and farmed locally. Those jobs, combined with his summer earnings up north, helped him stay in school.

The pressure came to a head during his final semester, when he ran out of funds entirely. A pending student loan offered some hope, but what saved him was discovering that his family had set up a trust years earlier, waiting for him to come forward. The fund provided the $500 he needed to finish school — money he eventually repaid with interest to the surprise of the person who had helped him.

From classroom to corporate America — with a pitstop in military service

After graduating from SC State in 1963, Daniely taught school for a year before being drafted — just three months before his 24th birthday, which would have made him exempt. His service lasted two years, including a year in Vietnam.

“When I came back from the war, I decided to go to corporate America,” he said. “And I started with the New York Central Railroad. And I worked my way from there all the way up to Metro-North.”

The New York Central Railroad merged into Penn Central, and later Conrail before the state agencies took control of passenger operations and formed Metro-North in 1983. Metro-North serves the New York Metropolitan Area, running service between New York City and its northern suburbs in New York and Connecticut.
 
“I worked there for 37 years, and I left there as the manager of the operating system. My title was vice president of computer operations,” he said.

‘Chirping’ for SC State

For years, Daniely had little interaction with his alma mater. His first contact was for the Class of 1963’s 25th anniversary. Then it was sporadic every five years as the class reached milestones.

Everything changed in 2015 when some state officials proposed closing the university.

“I really got excited and very angry. I said, ‘What do you mean you’re closing down the school? Where are the alumni?’ So, I put money on the table,” he said. “And I’ve been chirping ever since.”

Daniely has been known to pull out his checkbook at campus and alumni events — a gesture that has inspired others to follow his lead. That was evident at this year’s SCSU National Alumni Association (SCSUNAA) National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Daniely was the first to answer President Alexander Conyers’ challenge for contributions toward a health and wellness center at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Others followed.

“They expect me to chirp now because what I’m trying to do is I’m trying to change behavior,” he said. “I don’t look any different from anybody else, but I come up with my checkbook. When I come, they’re going to follow with their checkbooks."

His generosity has far exceeded expectations. In 2022, Daniely was inducted into SC State’s Thomas E. Miller Society, which recognizes donors who have contributed $100,000 or more to the university.

After decades in New York, Daniely lived in Florida for several years before settling in Columbia, South Carolina. Now retired for 20 years, he tends an organic garden.

“I plan everything that will grow in the area,” he said. “I’m setting my gardens up to be working this winter.”

Although he resides in Columbia, Daniely is active in the SCSUNAA’s Greater Augusta Chapter, having received an invitation to join from SC State Board of Trustees Douglas D. Gantt.

The convention in Charlotte was Daniely’s national alumni convention, where he reconnected with Bulldogs he hadn’t seen in decades. He does the same at such events as the university’s annual Founders Day and Homecoming celebrations.

“At homecoming, you see a lot of people, so that keeps you connected,” he said.

Whether speaking up when SC State faced challenges or quietly writing checks that inspire others to join him, Daniely has made his commitment clear: He will keep showing up — and giving — to ensure the next generation of Bulldogs has the chance to make their own “holy moly” moments.
 
For more information about giving to SC State, visit www.scsu.edu/give.